Universal Message of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Universal Message of Lord Mahāvīra
Jainism, non-violence is the pivot on which its whole ethics revolves. Non-violence is not a single virtue but it is a combination of all virtues. Lord Mahāvīra says that non-violence is equated with sixty virtuous qualities like peace, harmony, welfare, trust, fearlessness, etc.' Jainism believes in the principle, "Live and Let live.”
Today, when we see cruelties on animals on a large scale in mechanical slaughter-houses and the use of animals for leather products, in food industries, in producing medicines, in cosmetics and so on, we can understand how important it is to adhere to nonviolence so as to save the life on this planet. The extensive development of meat industries has brought environmental degradation on a large scale and today environmentalists are worried about how to stop it to make life of people healthy and happy.
Recognising that total adherence to the strictest form of ronviolence is impractical for a householder; Jaina preachers have drawn a distinction between violent activities totally forbidden and those, which may be tolerated within strict guidelines. From this standpoint, violence has been classified into the following four categories:
1. Deliberate or aggressive violence i.e., intentional killing
2. Protective violence resulting from opposing attack on one's
life, property or country. 3. Occupational violence resulting from industrial or agricultural
activity of the individuals for earning their livelihood.
4. Unintentional but indirect injury to living beings from acts
necessary for normal life like cooking or cleaning etc.