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If Jainism has been described as an 'Ethical system par excellence', ahimsa is the keynote of its system. It is also a feature which is often misunderstood, or not fully understood and duly appreciated. Nevertheless, this principle of ahimsa, non-violence or non-injury to life, is one of extreme importance and universal application, And, it pervades the entire length and breadth of the Jaina code of right conduct, the path. The chief criterion with which to judge the rightness and goodness of a thought, word or deed is ahimsa.
In his very first preaching, Mahavir showed that Ahimsa, truth, celibacy, non-stealing and non-possession are the means for liberation and for one's own full development one should practice the ten principles like forgiveness, humility, simplicity, piety, self-control, contentment, truth, asceticism, celibacy and non-possession. Jainism placed strong emphasis on the ethical principle of Ahimsa and also discussed it in epistemology and metaphysics. “Ahimsa’ is the central core of Jain Philosophy and Religion. Why Ahimsa an Universal Value?
In fact, ahimsa is equated with dharma, the nature of the soul. It is essential, intrinsic and inherent nature of the pure soul, which is the state of perfect equilibrium, unruffled peace, complete equanimity and imperishable attitude, devoid of ignorance, delusion and all sense of attachment of a person. No wonder that ahimsa has been described by the ancient Jaina sages as parama Brahma, the very God.
Jainas speak of violence as unnatural and non-violence as natural because if you throw somebody into the river, you expect a cause for it but if you save a man from drowning into river, we do not require an explanation for it. It means that love or non-violence is inherent in the nature of things. Nonviolence is as natural as fragrance to a flower. Flower
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