Acharya Mahaprajna
Both violence and nonviolence lie dormant in our consciousness. Propelled by circumstances at times, violence is awakened and at other times nonviolence rises as the dominant feeling. Since the consciousness of violence is supported by material objects and their consumption, its manifestation can only be seen as natural.
The consciousness of ahimsa (nonviolence) is the consciousness of self-restraint and renunciation. It gets no support from the external world, therefore awakening it depends upon specific efforts.
Experiments in the use of violence do not succeed without training. Today there are many centres in the world which impart training in violence. Some of them are being run in the name of national security, while others are being operated with a specific purpose of gaining some benefits or advantages. Violence cannot take an aggravated and barbaric form without intensive training.
It is also absolutely true that without training, one’s consciousness of nonviolence can neither be awakened nor developed. Life today is full of problems, which need solutions. Nonviolence is a solution. What we need is its systematic training.
Training in nonviolence is essential for all. It is necessary for the poor so that the tension generated by the lack of basic needs may not drive them to violence. It is equally essential for the rich because the tension created by indulgence and luxury may lead to violence.
Hunger, poverty, want of the basic needs of life and unemployment are the causes of violence generated by external circumstances. Avesh (a fit of a strong emotion) is the inner cause of violence. There are two outer lifestyles:
- A lifestyle dominated by avesh – which incites and promotes violence.
- A lifestyle regulated by peace and equanimity of life - which eventually leads to predominance of a nonviolent attitude in all circumstances
The participants in or at a nonviolence training camp are taught techniques to control strong emotions. They are helped to practise and master these techniques. It provides a solution for one aspect of the problem.
Either training in nonviolence without training in the tools of self-employment, or training in the tools of self-employment without training in nonviolence, are inadequate to solve the problem of violence in our own hearts and in society. The problem of violence can be solved only when training in nonviolence and providing bread join hands. That is why both aspects have been included in the course module of nonviolence training. The experiment of training in nonviolence should be carried out first at the individual level, then at family level and finally at the level of social and institutional consciousness. On the basis of this formula all sections of society can live a life of peaceful co-existence.
Affluence is no less a cause of violence than poverty. When the rich people indulge in exploitation, excessive consumption and ostentation, it foments reactive violence. Such acts of the rich may not become the direct cause of violence, but they become strong factors leading indirectly to violence. One aspect of nonviolence training is to limit one’s consumption and to renounce an excess of wealth. The complete structure of nonviolence training is based on this very concept.
26th Dec. 2007
Rajsamand (Raj.) INDIA
- Acharya Mahapragya
