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Jaina Concept of Non-violence and its ... : 27 tional violence (Sankalpajā hiṁsā) towards the higher mobile forms of life and is permitted incidental or occupational violence (Arambhajā himsā), industrial violence (Udyogajā himsā) and oppositional or defensive violence (Virodhajā hiṁsā) towards them is certainly not entitled to refuse the activities of positive non-violence in order to protect or save other living beings under the pretext that it involves some sort of violence.26 It is not proper to refuse those activities for the fear of violence. They are included in the duties of the householders and they must discharge them with a desire less disposition.
Violence within positive Non-violence is also Violence
However, it is necessary that we understand that the violence committed in the pursuit of activities that constitute positive non-violence is also positively violence. Otherwise our spring of kindness and compassion will dry up. We may have to commit violence due to it's being essential and unavoidable, but we must have a feeling of remorse for committing it and must also have a merciful disposition towards the objects of that violence, otherwise violence will get ingrained in our nature just as it does in a butcher's child. The discretion dictates that we do not only free ourselves form passions, attachment and aversion but that we also keep our sensitivity intact. The stream of mercy, kindness and compassion must keep flowing eternally in our hearts. We don't have to pursue heartless non-violence. The reason being as long as we remain sensitive to other's pain and misery, the amount of violence in any activities that we pursue will be barest minimum and in due course we will also be able to observe the ideal of absolute non-violence. It is then that our pursuit of non-violence will become positive and will be able to release the flow of service and co-operation in the human society. Even when violence becomes absolutely essential and if there is a choice between two forms of violence, we must choose the lesser of the two. However, the question as to which form of violence is lesser will depend on many considerations such as place, time, cir
