Philosophy In Jain Agams: Essence of Knowledge is Non-violence

Only that knowledge can be considered as right knowledge, which can be practiced as non-violence. The knowledge by which, the inspiration for violence occurs and means of violence develops, cannot be called 'knowledge'. That is an illusion of knowledge. It is the cause of worldly transmigration. Actual knower is the one who practices equanimity and non-violence. In the Sūtrakṛtāṅga, it is said that, 'The essence of being a knower is that he does not commit any kind of violence. Equanimity is non-violence, only this much he has to know'.^[1] From this statement, it becomes clear that the essence of knowledge is non-violence. Nonviolence is the highest conduct. It develops on the basis of equanimity. 'As I dislike sufferings, others also dislike them.^[2]' As the experience of such equanimity develops, the feeling of non-violence also develops to that extent. To consider all the living beings as one's own self, is the utopian non-violence. The Ācārāṅga which is an ethical text has an important place in the Jain tradition, Ācārāṅga starts with the curiosity for knowing the self and that is its fundamental essence. Lord Mahavira propounded non-violent life style on the basis of the concept of soul. One, who has a belief in the soul, also has a belief in non-violence.