The Truth

Author(s): O P Jain
Publisher: Veer Nirvan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 87

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THE TRUTH
ment of life or freedom in respect of one's pranas. The main types of himsa can be classified abelow :
Himsa
Injuring one-sensed beings
Injuring higher sensed beings
Deliberate
Accidental
Necessary
Wanton Due to implied in
careless. struggle for ness
existence Defence Law Medical Employof body, & reatment of property order men
men & or
animals country
for trade Sport Slavery Sacrifice Killing
for food, trade
The degree of sin involved in himsa varies with the developmental level of the life injured and the degree of cruelty of disposition. The plant life does not show the usual indications of life as higher sensed beings do. Hence not much hard-heartedness can be associated with their destruction as compared to other higher forms of life whose deliberate destruction cannot but be associated with the deadening of that element of love, tenderness and sympathy which a living being feels, or should, but for the deadening of his tender nature, feel for another living being. The five sensed life, which includes man, cows, goat, pigs, birds, fish etc., cry out when hurt, and at times also in anticipation of being hurt, and mutely appeal to you from distressed pitiful eyes.
All acts, including that of himsa, have phases which can be described as (i) intention (ii) planning (iii) actual doing (iv) doing one