हिसा विरति-अविरति-आचाराग के परिप्रेक्ष्य से

Summary

The article examines violence as a major contemporary issue, exploring its nature, causes, and solutions from the perspective of Jain philosophy, particularly the teachings of Lord Mahavira and Acharya Mahapragya. It argues that violence stems from fundamental elements like lack of restraint, attachment, possessiveness, and negligence, which fuel hedonism and terrorism. The text uses the metaphor of a banyan tree to illustrate violence, with roots in attachment and aversion, a trunk of unwholesome factors, branches of passions like anger and greed, and fruits of suffering and mental distress. It emphasizes that violence always leads to harm and obstructs spiritual progress. The article connects violence to environmental degradation, warning that unchecked violence, including nuclear warfare, could lead to catastrophic climate change, pollution, and destruction of life, as described in ancient Jain texts like the Acharanga Sutra. It details how violence against the six types of life forms—earth, water, fire, air, vegetation, and mobile beings—harms both the environment and human well-being. For instance, pollution of water and air, deforestation, and overexploitation of resources are forms of violence that disrupt ecological balance, cause diseases, and threaten survival. The text stresses that harming any life form ultimately harms oneself, as violence leads to negative karmic consequences, including rebirth in lower states and suffering. It concludes by urging a non-violent lifestyle, highlighting that violence against others is self-destructive and impedes spiritual liberation.