Training in Nonviolence

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

Page 54

Training in Nonviolence
of course, takes place at the level of society. It is, therefore, not inappropriate to say that the above training has the individual as its base and society as its field of application. The same holds good of violence. Accordingly, the most important way of bringing about a nonviolent society is making individuals nonviolent and all training should be directed at this end. Family Life and Nonviolence
Society implies interrelatedness of and interaction among individuals. Humane relationships and rectitude in behaviour constitute training in nonviolence. Its beginnings are best made in the family. It is not proper to view violence as being limited to wars and terrorist activities. Wars take place only sometimes and in some places, whereas violence manifests itself within the family almost daily. It erodes mental peace, which in turn contributes to the spread of violence on a wide scale. Peaceful coexistence within the family is an important guarantee of the success of training in nonviolence. Intolerance, lack of self-control and over-reaching ambition poison the peace and happiness of a family. A curb on them and practice in avoiding them will automatically rid the family of the prevalence of violence. Nonviolence in the family means Training in Anekant (non-absolutistic view)
In order to develop nonviolence within the family, one major requirement, is the spirit of reconciliation. It is possible to reconcile diverse thoughts and tastes. To achieve it, training in anekant can be extremely useful, for anekant admits of autonomy only in a relative sense. It accepts coexistence only to the extent that such acceptance does not condone injustice. It approves of quality without disregarding unequal degrees of competence. The pillars of peace should be strong enough to withstand the strains of diversity. Training in anekant gives due place to diversity, so long as it is not at the cost of unity. Making people aware of this coexistent duality, diversity and unity, will be an important step towards building a nonviolent society.
Causative Factors of Violence in Society
There are innumerable social factors, some of them having come down to us since a long time past, that cause violence in society - caste prejudices, racism, apartheid, regionalism and mass poverty, to name but a few. Time and again they result in social conflagrations.
Racism and discrimination based on colour can be best tackled by inculcating all the people with the spirit of common humanity. However, the problem of poverty is a bit complex. One aspect of the problem lies in the disparity between an inadequate supply of consumer goods and an ever-increasing number of consumers. The problem gets compounded for want of a proper and just sense of sharing. A high premium is placed on individual comfort and acquisition, while the desire to share things equally and justly is at a heavy discount.
48