Guidance of Bhagavan Mahaveer....



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.


Karma

The Sanskrit word Karma (or kamma in Pali) literally means action. Whatever we do, with our body, speech, or mind, will have a corresponding result. It mainly refers to one's intention or motivation while doing an action. The effects or results of karma are 'vipaka' or 'phala'. 'You get what you give' in Buddhism or 'A person reaps what he sows' in Christianity. It is a term about the cycle of cause and effect and is an important part of many religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Ayyavazhi, Sikhism and Jainism

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
In accord with undisputable fact or reality. Fidelity to an original and sincerity in action or character. Truth could be subjective or objective, relative or absolute. Many religions consider perfect knowledge of all truth about all things (omniscience) to be an attribute of a divine or supernatural being. It is the actuality or actual existence. The quality of being genuine, actual, or factual. A transcendent, fundamental or spiritual reality. The body of real things, events, and facts.

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.


Freedom

The idea of the right or the ability of the individual to do what he wants, whilst respecting the freedoms of others. The liberty of the individual coupled with concern for other's liberty. Freedom from pretension, snobbery, prejudice, dogmatism, resentment, hate, prejudice and negative thinking.



World

Planet earth all inclusive of its land, water, its inhabitants and natural habitat.

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.


Life
The period of existence, duration, usefulness, or popularity of something. A specific phase of earthly existence. The period from birth to death. Spiritual existence transcending physical death. The sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual. The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body. The sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.

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.
(source : speakingtree)
(The writer is associate professor in Jainism, Department of Religious Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala).
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