Ahimsa and application

Activities to Support Vows Non-stealing Celibacy Truthfulness Non-Violence Non-Possessiveness

Dual nature of Vows DetachedInhibits Inflow Of Karmas (Samvar) AttachedGenerates Beneficial Karmas (Punya) DetachedNot To Be Violent AttachedTo Be Compassionate

Ahimsa --Sthul Pränätipät Viraman-vrata Nonviolence Sthul Prän Atipät Virman SthulGross Pränätipät means ill treatment of the Pränas (life forces) Viraman means stopping. What is Präna (Life Forces)? How many different types of Präna?

Types of Prän Drvaya Bhäv

Life Forces Drvya Prän (Vitality) Sparsh-Indriya Touch Ras-Indriya Taste Ghrän-lndriya Smell Chakshu-lndriya Vision Shrotra-Indriya Hearing Mano-bal Mind Vachan-bal Speech Käy-bal Body Shväsoshväs Respiration Äyushya Longevity

Bhäv Prän Jnan Darshan Charitra Virya

What is Himsä? "Pramattayogät Präna-vyaparopanam Himsä" “The destruction of life forces due to an act involving negligence (Pramäda) is violence". What is Pramäda? Any injury whatsoever to the material or conscious vitalities caused through passionate activity of mind, body or speech. Any activity which delays our spiritual journey towards liberation. Injuring one self –to behavior that inhibits the soul’s ability to attain Moksha Defiling innate attributes of soul

Pramäda Mental state of attachment and aversion Negligence Unawareness Lack of faith Disrespect Attachment Aversion

Himsä: Dravya And Bhäv Physical And Spiritual Dravya Himsä The actual hurt or injury Bhäv Himsä, The intention to hurt or injure to the Präna (vitality) Himsä: Bähya And Antargata External And Internal Bähya External aspects Antargata Internal aspects

Swaroop HinsäIncidental Hinsä Hetu HinsäHinsä because of Carelessness Anubandha HinsäIntention of Hinsä

Classification Of Himsä: (Violence) Ärambhaja or Ärambhi Himsä, Occupational injury Anärambhaja or Anärambhi Non occupation Intentional injury Ärambhi Himsä Udyami Himsä Industrial injury Grihärambhi Himsä Domestic injury Virodhi Himsä Defensive injury

Different Ways We Commit Himsä Mind, Body and Speech Doing act, Encouraging and appreciating Past, Present and Future Five One Sense Being, And Four Other Types 3x3x3x9

Himsä can be committed by three kinds of Karana (action): Krita, by doing it oneself Karita, by getting it done through others Anumodana by giving consent to others doing it

Avoidable

Observance of Non-Violence by Householders: He/She will avoid intentional injury and will reduce violence as much as possible for industrial, domestic, and defensive purposes. He/She will avoid major violence and reduce minor violence as much as possible. He/She will reduce/avoid both the intentions of violence and the acts of violence.

Reasons for Ahimsa Rational consciousness Emotional compassion—Other oriented consciousness Individual responsibility---Self oriented consciousness Social fellow-feeling Refraining from violence Deep reverence for all life.. Anekäntaväda Not imposing own thoughts on others or manipulating others for self benefit

Ahimsä The Jain concept of respect for the life of others led to the principle of respect for the views of others, which formed the basis of “Anekänta" or non-one-sided doctrine. Non-violence (Ahimsä) strengthens the autonomy of life everywhere

Support for Ahimsä Supporting Factors Control of Speech and Mind, Control of Movement, Examinations of food and drink before consuming, Handling waste, Handling household objects Cultivating Factors Friendship, Appreciation, compassion and equanimity

Mother always wishes and worries about well- being of her child Mother is always pleased with child’s progress and success Mother always feels pain for child’s sorrow Mother always ignores child’s faults

Maitri----- Friendship Desire to do good to others Pramod---- Appreciation To be pleased seeing others happy Karunä----Compassion To feel pain for others’ misery Mädhyastha----- Equanimity To overlook other’s faults calmly

What is your response when you see a little child stepping on a insect? Example of Social Non-violence Example of Economic Non-violence Example of Political Non-violence

Example of Social Non-violence Example of Economic Non-violence Example of Political Non-violence

Circle of Non-Violence Self Family Friends Society Enemies Environment

The Six Steps of Non-Violence Avoid harm By Actions Avoid harm By Speech Avoid harm By Thoughts Love With thoughts Love With Speech Love With Actions

Non-violence and Compassion Jainism recognizes sanctity in all life forms. Ahimsä is disciplined behavior towards every living being - Dashvaikalika Sutra (6/9) Absence of violence of any sort towards all beings at all times is Ahimsä. - Yogasutra In its absolute definition: –‘Ahimsä is the absence of destructive thoughts, feelings or attitude’

A profound truth for all times “One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own existence which is entwined with them” - Lord Mahavir ( BC)

The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – –Tattvärtha Sutra (2000 year old Scripture) All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence Environment is imbued in every living beings If we harm “ONE” we harm “ALL” living beings –Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise. –Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.

The major lapses and violations of the vow of non-violence : Not considering Ahimsā as the key element in the whole scheme of the ethical discipline of the Shrāvak and the monk. Being violent towards others and toward own-self because of passions or carelessness Encouraging or appreciating violence caused by others

Unnecessarily wasting earth, water, fire, air, and vegetations Not giving protection or expressing compassion towards mobile living beings Consuming or using harmful and illicit substances. (e.g. drugs, liquor, or food obtained thru gross violence) Exposing mind to violence by watching violent movies, reading books depicting violence, or associating with violent people

Imposing own thoughts on others or manipulating others for self benefit Needlessly confining animals and birds Using animal drawn carriages or needless riding on animals Making animals carry heavy loads Depriving animals and birds of shelter Using dairy products obtained from animals that have not been properly cared for.

Ahimsä and other Vrats Ahimsä and Achaurya (Non-stealing) Ahmisä and Satya ( Truth) Ahimsä and Aparigrha (Non-possessiveness) Comfort comes as a guest; lingers to become the host, and stays to enslave us.

The Inconvenient Truth Organic not necessarily means Vegetarian or Vegan Production of Honey involves violence Red dye from Crushed Cochineal Insects One single Edition of NY Newspaper uses 6800 trees Most Cheese - Rennet Enzyme - Animal product WHEY -- A by-product of cheese making Wine making requires clarifying agent like gelatin, eggs, blood from mammals One silk sari silk worms Mercedes-s car with leather seats requires seven cow skin Bone china is made of calcined ox bone, bone ash.

Vegetarianism (Rejection of Eating Animal Food Rejection of Drinking Liquor Abandonment of Honey Dress and Decoration Basic Positive Aspects of Ahimsa

What does Jainism teach about ecology? Non-Possessiveness / Self-restraint is the second most important Jain principle –Minimizing consumption provides respect for other’s life and Environment –Reduce needs and wants as far as possible. –Reuse / Recycle Products - Not to waste the gifts of nature –Share resources –Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for our GREED

Non-violence (Ahimsä) strengthens the autonomy of life everywhere Non-absolutism (Anekäntaväda) strengthens autonomy of thoughts & speech (Syädväda) Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) strengthens autonomy of interdependence

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other, too. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other, too.