For protection of all lives Religion is taught to us. Therefore Ahimsa is Essential part of religion. |
Source: Great Indian Epic Mahabharta
I’d like to begin this chapter with a poem on ahimsa written by a ten-year-old Jain girl in San Diego, USA.
I want to be Jain
I want to feed the hungry
I want to wipe the tears of the sad
I want to give to the needy
I want to be Jain…
I want to push all the anger out of my heart
I want to make room for forgiveness instead
I want to ask for forgiveness for bad things I may have done
I want to be Jain…
I want animals to live and be free
I want people to understand animals are like us
I don’t want to use them for my needs
I want to be Jain…
I don’t want to lie or cheat
I don’t want to take advantage of others
I want to be honest and truthful
I want to be Jain…
I don’t want to insist that I am correct
There are more than one right answers to a question
If I don’t insist I am right, there will be not fights
I want to be a Jain…
Bhagwaan Mahavir
Let me walk on your path
The path that took you to liberation
Let it take me there too
Let me spread love, peace and joy
Oh how I want to be Jain
…oh how I want to be Jain!!!
- Rutvi Shah, - age 10 - San Diego, USA