Message on Ahimsa

Jainism is not only a teaching but it is primarily a practice, the practice of Ahimsa. Ahimsa means the dignity and sacredness of the human person in relation with all other living beings. Its criteria is Reverence for All Life.

Violence is spreading like wildfire all over the world and is devouring human life. It is a matter of grave concern to all of us and so our conscience urges us to do something in this direction: Practising ahimsa in everyday life, creating literature, holding conferences and seminars and increasing the consciousness of Reverence for All Life - these are the ways to peace. And with our sincere practice, meditation and prayer, we create vibrations of awareness of Reverence for Life; in this way, we help nullify the idea of de humanizing war and violence in the world at large.

Bhagwan Mahavira has shown us by the examples of his own life experiences that nonviolence and compassion are the answers for peace and well being. In order to expunge violence, one has to remove it from thoughts, from feelings, from the mind, and from one's expression. Knowing this law of life, we can purify our minds with meditation and understanding, and then with guidance we can help our children avoid becoming victims of this materialistic world where violence is predominant.

Success, not at the cost of others, not with conflict but with cooperation and coordination becomes pragmatic and automatic, it teaches an individual to transform his or her life and be the part of a world where love, amity and friendship are healing and nourishing to all living beings. The cruelty which is imposed upon the lives of animals is beyond imagination.True Jains, all through their history have refrained from cruelty. Carl Sagan in Time Magazine, October 20, 1980, wrote: "there is no right to life in any society on earth today, nor has there been at any former time (with a few rare exceptions, such as among the Jains in India)".

You will not find any vegetarian army that has participated in war. Nor will you find any vegetarian soldier who has gone out to kill human beings. That is why even Mahatma Gandhi, though he was not a Jain by birth, realized the true Ahimsa of Mahavira and embraced it and practiced it in his life. He raised Ahimsa to the level of statesmanship and politics to liberate India without bloodshed. This Ahimsa is a solace to mankind.

Not only Gandhi; not only Martin Luther King; and not only the Venerable Japanese Monk Nichidatsu Fuji, but the whole world is now looking up to this principle of Ahimsa .

Ahimsa is neither dogmatic nor sectarian. Its foundation is not blind faith but experiences of various living aspects of life. In this world there is no religion so alive, beautiful and kind as Ahimsa .

Our primary purpose is to liberate our mind from attachment, greed and ignorance. When the essence of these principles is taught to our children, they will become the best citizens of the world. I am sure that all centers, societies and temples, individually and collectively with Jaina, will continue to work in this direction and seek the light to create an atmosphere that will be conducive to achieving our goal.

The former Prime MInister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, very appropriately mentioned in his letter to me that, "Ahimsa is the only answer for mankind," and "...this Ahimsa is our heritage, our wealth, our spiritual light and our essence."

I have no doubt that you can change many things in this world by changing yourselves, by being sensitive, caring and compassionate beings. May you cherish a feeling of amity amongst your fellow beings and may peace and nonviolence become your beacons.

Love and Blessings, Chitrabhanu

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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