Training in Nonviolence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Anuvrat Global Organization

Page 41

Impulsive State of Human Mind and Violence
Homes for the old are built to mitigate the suffering of old age. There are a large number of hospitals for the treatment of diseases but there is neither a hospital nor an ashram (refuge) to eradicate the suffering caused by hunger. Those who have an abundance of things to eat cannot experience the pain of hunger, nor can they know about it or understand it. Only those who do not get even two square meals a day experience this agony.
On the basis of this situation we have no hesitation in admitting that a man afflicted with the pangs of hunger can resort to any crime and can participate in any violent activity.
In the course of our Ahimsa Yatra, we studied the problems of villages as well the problems of the people living there. The educated elite, rich persons and officials of the Government inhabit the cities, hence more attention is paid to their beautification than to the sanitary conditions and basic infrastructure of the villages. In addition there are problems of education, health and employment. It is also not correct to say that the Government is not doing anything in this direction. But it will also not be wrong to say that it is not being done to the extent it should be done.
We came to know that the expectations of the rural people are not being fulfilled. What fills our hearts with anguish is that in the absence of any means of livelihood many individuals and families are not able to get even two meals a day. Every new state government vows that it will not allow any one to die of hunger. It may be true that the number of those who die of hunger is not large but the number of those who suffer from the pangs of hunger is very large. We have experienced it directly. We cannot remove avesh (the impulsive impetuosity) caused by hunger and poverty through change of heart. The reason is that this pain is caused by the absence of food - which is a material need. Hunger can be removed only by fulfilling that need. We must build a social system, which limits both accumulation and consumption.
Strong impulsive states of mind like anger; greed, fear, sexual lust etc. are of an individual character. They can be overcome by a change of heart or by transformation of one's consciousness. That is why training in the fair means of livelihood has also been included in Ahimsa Prashikshan (training in nonviolence) along with the transformation of emotions. The results of ahimsa prashikshan are :
1. Improvement in human relations 2. Development of sensitivity and compassion towards all living beings 3. Combination of training in nonviolence and training in the means of livelihood 4. To build an environment of peaceful co-existence is a resolve for a healthy
society consisting of healthy individuals to be taken to reach our goal
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