|
| |
Lord Mahavira: A Formula for Coexistence, Peace and
Harmony
Dr. Tansukh J. Salgia, founding member and past President (1985-1989) of
Federation of Jain Association in North America
Today, we are living in an age of constant change, adventure, opportunity,
and expanding horizons. Just at this moment all over the world, tensions of
distrust, terrorism and war are on the horizon. It is the moral authority of
peace-loving people of the world to examine the changes that can give a new hope
for peace and non-violence. In this grim situation one should carefully examine
the teachings of Lord Mahavira, the last and the twenty-fourth Jain Tirthankara
(prophet).
Peaceful living is possible only when love and understanding permeate our lives,
for they provide the solutions to tension and hostility that divides nations.
And it is for the men of cloth, the artists, and the thinkers to recapture the
dignity of this New Age and to produce a new climate of ideas and a new vision
of a peaceful world society.
The contribution of Jainism to mankind in its progress of evolution has been,
will be and is in the simple formula of “three As":
AHIMSA: Non-Violence.
ANEKANTVADA: the Relativity of Thinking, The doctrine of manifoldness of
reality (Non-one-sidedness).
APARIGRAHA: Non-Acquisition. Non-attachment.
Only with Ahimsa can peace be stabilized, progress be ensured, and the way
cleared for development and prosperity.
Anekantavada is the basis of appreciating and understanding others' viewpoints,
which consequently leads to a life that respects and reveres every body and all
living beings, and which allows for reconciliation, integration and synthesis of
conflicting philosophic views.
The philosophy of Aparigraha –non-attachment is one of working with, rather than
against, nature, of thoughtful observation, rather than thoughtless action. This
adds to harmony and becomes the base for ecological alternatives.
We can tap the power of our senses, mind, heart and soul by nourishing our body
and senses with vegetarian food, enlightening our mind with creative ideas,
enriching our heart with love and reverence for life, and illuminating our soul
with wisdom and self-realization.
According to Jaina thinkers equanimity of mind, body and speech should be a
directive principle of religious life.
The equanimity of mind is non-attachment, equanimity of body is non-violence,
and equanimity of speech is non-absolutism. Non-attachment, non-violence and
non-absolutism are the three pillars of Jainism and are fully competent to meet
the needs of our time and to establish peace and harmony in the world.
If mankind is to be freed from mental tensions, it is necessary to grow a
detached outlook in life. Jainism believes that the lesser will be the
attachment the greater will be the mental peace. It is only when attachment is
vanished; the human mind will be free from mental tensions and emotional
disorders.
The concept of non-violence and the regard for life is accepted by almost all
the religions of the world. But none of the religions observe it as minutely as
Jainism. Jainism prohibits not only killing of human beings and animals but of
the vegetable kingdom also. To hurt the plants is also an act of violence. Its
basic principle is that life, in whatever form it may be, should be respected;
we have no right to take another’s life, because every one wants to live as we
want.
In Jainism non-violence is the pivot on which its whole ethics revolves. For
Jains violence represents all the vices and non-violence represents all the
virtues. Non-violence is not a single virtue but is a group of virtues.
It can be said that the Jaina concept of non-violence is extremist and not
practical, but we cannot challenge its relevance for human society. Though
Jainism sets its goal as the ideal of total non-violence, external as well as
internal, yet the realization of this ideal in the practical life is by no means
easy. Non-violence is a spiritual ideal, which is fully realizable only in the
spiritual plane.
In defining religion Lord Mahavira remarks," The worthy men of the past, present
and the future all say thus, speak thus, explain thus: all breathing, existing
living and sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence,
nor abused, nor tormented. This is the pure, eternal and unchangeable law or the
tenet of religion.” In other words, non-violence is the eternal and pure form of
religion.
When man overcomes the negative vibrations of antagonism and greed, he achieves
good health, both physical and psychological.
When he overcomes his prejudices and narrow pre-conditionings, he achieves
wisdom.
When he sets aside dogmas and fanaticism, he achieves understanding.
When he conquers his hostility and hate, he achieves love and amity.
In this way, Science has made the World a Neighborhood; however the Teachings of
Lord Mahavira will make it a World of Brotherhood.
Now let me conclude with recitation of a short prayer for love and friendship:
KHAMIYA KHAMAVIA MAI KHAMAHA SAVVA JIVA NIKAYA
SIDDHA SAKHA ALOYENA MUJJA VAIRA NA BHAVA
I forgive all Souls, may all souls forgive me. Let my heart be free from
hatred and resentment. Let my love go forth to all beings. Let the Perfect
Souls witness that I truly bear no animosity toward any living being.
|