Gani Rajendra Vijay
Non-violence is not only the biggest virtue but the base of all other virtues. In the company of non-violence, other traits become as precious. Without it, other traits become worthless. This is exactly what is happening in the world today. Overlooking of non-violence is costing us other virtues too. Human rights talks are not proving extremely beneficial. The greatest crisis of the times is the loss of values of humanity, being humane and qualities associated with it.
Non-violence is an eternal entity. Violence is devastation and non-violence is heavenly. If we want to touch the pinnacles of glory and development, want to enliven the infinite possibilities of life, want to bring heaven on earth, then non-violence will have to be adhered to absolutely.
Lord Mahavira says appropriately in simple terms - Joys are to be requisited and sorrows shunned. All want to live and nobody wants to die. We must do to others as we wish others to do to us. This is humanity and the foundation of humanity. Humanity lies in protecting not in killing. Hurting, murdering or torturing any man, animal, bird or creature is evidently cruel and brutal. Violence, murder and massacre never have anything to do with human values. Values lie in the simple and elevated echoes of 'live and let live'.
Non-violence is requisite and essential for co-existence. Efforts to negate others existence and preserving one's own prove to be useless and finally fatal and dreadening. Acharya Shree Umaswati's famous saying is - 'Paras paropagrah Jivnam' - meaning thereby all are friends and peers to each other.
Helping each other and depending on each other, thus life goes on. Progress of society and social grace is based on this theory of non-violence. In this manner, co-operation, feeling of belonging, equality, equanimity, and such human values get resurrected through non-violence. Non-violence permeating from nucleus to perimeter renders happiness from man to the world.
Whether it is the case of degeneration of human values in the world, the sabotage of human rights or other problems, violence, in one word, is the foremost and basic problems or cause of all problems. And solution to all problems is one i.e non-violence. 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or 'the whole world is a family'. Such sentiments are evolved through non-violence in man. Mankind has endured the ill effects of war, violence and killings, is forbearing and is anticipating the danger from the same anytime.
No other method except non-violence can save man, humanity and the world. This is perceptible that violence shakes the very basis of humanity. While killing others, man kills himself and his divine qualities. Lord Mahavira has explained this phenomenon in a very subtle form in 'Acharang Sutra'
Whosoever you want to kill, that is you. Whom you intend to torture, that is you, and whom you want to discipline, that is you yourself.
This 'advait-bhav' is the basis of non-violence. One act of violence gives way to endless circle of violence. Non-violence renders agacity to all. This is constructive and ushers in prosperity. Mankind is born from the womb of non-violence. All human values blossom, grow and spread under the aegis of non-violence. In fact nonviolence is the life-giving oxygen to humanity. Non-violence is the preserver of nature, environment, earth, water and all creatures. Man has marked an amazing progress in science and knowledge. But the respect for others' and one's own life has dwindled. Thinking revolutions burst out but revolutions and reformations on behavioural level are hardly visible. Peace, non-violence and human rights are much talked about in the world but man is found wanting in proper and decent behaviour towards others. In this context, 'Sutrakritang-Sutra' appears very relevant and apt:
"Aivam Khoo Nanini Saram Jam Na hisai Kinchan. Ahimsa Samayam Chaiv atavantam Viyaniya."
It means:
Being knowledgeable means not killing anyone. Non-violence based equality is the sum total of religion.
This is all to be remembered in mind. When our behaviour, food habits and life style is steered by non-violence, our life's garden blossoms with innumerable, multi-coloured flowers of virtues. On the other hand, a tinge of non-violence will spoil and devastate everything.
Non-violence propagates union, love, compassion and fellow feelings. Man's integrity and warmth is in danger because of violence. Everybody knows that humanity is the supreme religion. But how should one define the meaning of humanity? What should be the human-religion? Clearly it should be non-violent. In Mahabharta too, Ahimsa is said to be supreme and absolute creed. Ahimsa dharma is manav dharma and vice versa. This way man gets associated with mankind automatically. In Vallabh vani, it is said that non-violence helps in incorporating the balance between our lives and the world, it balances our imbalanced life, protects us from doom and destruction. If we do not follow the path of non-violence, then nature does her own work. In fact, warmth, service, sacrifice, truth, forgiveness, fellow feelings; such virtues are the by-products of non-violence.
Non-violence develops a peep into our soul, internal self. Others' sufferings appear to be our own. The follower of non-violence is always ready to alleviate the grievances of others. Where there is service, there is sacrifice. A non-violent person will never trouble others rather lessen their sufferings. By associating others into his own happiness, he will multiply his happiness and evolve them too. According to creeds of all preceptors, scriptures, great men and thinkers, non-violence is for the welfare of all. It is the greatest of all human values. Unity in diversity is required to establish non-violence. Only then we can save the nation's universality.