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✓ AHIMSA, THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES Y
Dt. 13-10-1982
'Never injure any life' is the summum bonum for righteous conduct as one of the greatest sages, who has concern for all living beings, said in his work - a guide for humanity. For him in fact, all other virtues are less important and can be listed below the principle of 'Non- killing' or Ahimsa.
world that they too can take the life of a man. Is man ready to grant this 'right' to animals? Prople should be vigilant while going about their daily routine not to cause harm to living beings to the extent possible.
A careless throwing away of a burning matchstick sometimes result in a conflagration in which many may perish, a heavy burden on an undernourished animal may cause its extinction, heaps of dirt not removed, may become the breeding place of insects which may be destroyed by man. Saint Tiruvalluvar has denounced the sacrifice of animals in the name of religion. The chapter in Tirukkural on 'Ahimsa' reflects the noble sentiments of Jainism.
Unfortunately, people destroy living beings out of carelessness while walking or undertaking any acitivity. A little precaution can certainly save so many lives - those of insects and others. It may be asked why should a person be worried about protecting these small insects since even if they are destroyed, no loss would occur to the society. The answer is that since man has no power to resurrect an inscet that is dead he has no authority to take away its life. All scriptures, more particularly the Jain shastras, stress that life is most precious.
It were a better world indeed if the world were Jain.
- Dr. Morases Bluemfield
Baltimore (USA)
It is wrong to advocate that a human being has a right to take away the life of an animal or other smaller helpless creatures. If that is so, Acharya Vikramsuriji said in his discourse, an identical argument can be advanced on behalf of the animal
It is real service to behave with
love and politeness.
