Samani Amit Pragya
JVB London - Souvenir 2007
on
Ahimsa
Non-violence
How To Change One's Lifestyle
On seeing Ravan's dead body in the battlefield, the monkey brigade asked Laxman, "How was Ravan's body pierced in more than a thousand places?" Laxman answered, "Ram's arrows made it possible."
Then, they asked Ram the same question. Ram just smiled and said, "No weapon, however powerful, nor any soldiers, however skilled in the art of warfare, can kill a person. Only when a person's sinful deeds surface, can this happen as in the case of Ravan."
When we indulge in personal attachments, we become trapped in an inescapable web leading to a point of no return. Attachment can be to one's physical body and beauty, or to one's family that leads to supporting the wrong behaviour of one's near and dear or attachment can be to possess more wealth through unfair means. Dwelling on our wealth encourages the desire to control others. This arrogant behaviour leads to our downfall.
The most dangerous act of violence is committed in the heat of the moment. An emotionally distraught person acts without regard to the consequences of his/her action. Hostility to others, use of insulting and sarcastic words and an expression of superiority are violent actions. Darkness looms over the light of our consciousness. To eliminate this darkness, we need to break away from "attachment." And we can only break this thread by removing the toxin of viciousness and live with purity.
Jainism teaches us to control our emotions. Until we change our lifestyle, we cannot move towards the field of non-violence. To bring a tremendous and positive change in our lifestyles, Acharya Mahaprajna inspires us to open an ice factory in our brains to handle any situation with coolness; and a sugar factory on our tongues to speak gently and politely.
Keeping these goals in view will enable us to change our lives and enable us to walk on the path of right vision.