The
universal teachings of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Jain tirthankara, are
recorded in Agam literature. These teachings are based on right faith,
right knowledge and right conduct, often referred to as the ‘three
gems’. He reminds us that every individual soul has infinite capacity
for right knowledge, faith and conduct but that is hidden under
different types of inauspicious karmas. Our knowledge, faith, conduct
and working capacity all lie hidden but Mahavira showed us how the dirt
of karma can be washed off by the water of auspicious karmas.
The journey of auspicious karmas starts with the practice of five vows: nonviolence, Truth,
non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness. The practice of
non-violence is the highest human value. The meaning of nonviolence is
to act with goal of common welfare by viewing all beings as equal and
respecting all.
Truth
and nonviolence are close companions. If a man steals and lies he
becomes a thief; he acts like that being motivated by greed and other
negative thoughts and all these factors weaken the soul. The vow of
non-stealing plays the important role of strengthening the soul. Truth,
non-stealing and celibacy are closely related with nonviolence. A
terrorist has no religion.
Gandhiji made nonviolence a tool of the non-cooperation movement. He used that tool during India's struggle for freedom.
Violence only gives birth to more violence just as enmity gives birth
to more enmity. Right cannot be suppressed by might. Suppression by
might gives birth to hate. This world
is burning in the fire of hatred and enmity for others. The pacifist
message of Mahavira can put out the fire of this hatred. Coexistence,
fraternity and brotherhood can grow in an environment of non-violence.
Mahavira
had motivated wealthy people to go for limited possession (aparigraha)
of prosperity. He had related this vow with dharma. Aparigraha was very
necessary to establish an egalitarian society. The lust for unlimited
possession creates larger gap between poverty and property. Until proper
utilisation of wealth for welfare is done, a strong society cannot
emerge.
These
five vows are equally important for all monks. Mahavira taught us the
vow of limited use that is also important to protect our environment.
Our air, water, earth, fire and sky can be conducive for us only if we
utilise them in a limited manner. Once, Gandhiji had stated that earth
can fulfill our need but not our greed.
Mahavira
taught that everyone should be vigilant while living with feelings of
love and fraternity. Mahavira’s teaching of non-absolutism
(anekāntvāda) has very great relevance in our present time. Different
types of people with different types of life
style, language, culture and civilisation are living on earth. There is
diversity and there is also unity. Most clashes take place because of
misunderstanding about this reality.
Mahavira
emphasised the need for inclusiveness. Truth should be understood from
different angles. If a thing is perceived from different angles, it
seems to be different. The same thing appears to be different from
different angles. We cannot negate different points of views in which
truth is inherent. Mahavira had viewed the true nature of things through
his experience and gave us the way of non-absolutism to understand
them.
The
teaching of non-absolutism has no contradiction with modern science.
The infinite possibility is lying in property of things -- provided we
have proper understanding of that. What he had taught during his
lifetime is relevant even today.
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