Applied Philosophy Of Jainism

SR No.: 032589
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publication Year: 2018
Total Pages: 82
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 33

26: Applied Philosophy of Jainism
raise a finger on the perpetrators of such atrocity in the name of observing complete and absolute non-violence. Don't they have any social responsibility? Looked from this standpoint the question of violence or non-violence is not purely personal. As long as the whole human society does not become one in observing absolute non-violence, the proclamation of absolute non-violence by one individual or one nation is meaningless. Again, if the whole society starts observing absolute non-violence towards all the creatures of the six kinds of living beings and does not indulge in even minor forms of violence towards lower order of lives in supporting the monastic institution, will there be any existence of this institution? Will this institution be able to, or even need to, survive in the face of absolute non-violence? Therefore, it is not right to ignore the positive aspects of non-violence in the name of absolute non-violence. The violence that is committed for instituting safely and security measures is unavoidable.
Exceptional and Positive Non-violence
The consideration of violence and non-violence is mainly internal. A vigilant person who is above the feelings of attachment and aversion is non-violence even when he is seen committing some sort of violence externally while a negligent person who is given to attachment and aversion is essentially violent even when he refrains from committing external violence. Also, on one side to refrain from activities of positive non-violence in the name of observing absolute non-violence and to enact exceptions for meeting one's or one's social and religious orders is just not justified. If we accept that some minor violence is necessary for supporting a monk or the monastic institution and some exceptions can be made in the observance of absolute non-violence to meet this end, will also have to accept some exceptions therein in order to undertake some activities for furthering the weal of the living beings at large.
Again, the householders who do not take the vow of absolute nonviolence and do indulge in violence towards one-sensed creatures in his day to day activities and who is bound to obviate only the inten