Non-violence: Eternal and Absolute Law
If we observe everything around us or our existential surroundings, then it is found that the whole system works in accordance with various natural laws, which we are supposed to study in the natural sciences, and with this knowledge, it is concluded that there is never any violence from real natural laws, and as a result, everything exists. If we increase our observing limit to everything, including living beings, then also non-violence of all the natural laws as well as living conditions leads to happier and more sustained lives. If all living beings follow basic rules and help each other, then this whole ecosystem will help us not only grow to achieve success in life but to understand entire nature. In fact, it is our helping nature and compassion towards other living beings that make us different from non-living beings and initiate the path of progress for us. So non-violence seems to be the eternal and universal law. That is why the famous quote “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma,” which literally means non-violence is absolute law, is frequently mentioned in Indian civilization.
To know the meaning of life or to get the answer to the fundamental question of existence, if we look in history, we find two of the most ancient streams that follow the principle of “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma,” which we know by the names of Jainism (Shraman tradition) and Hinduism (Vedic or Brahamnical tradition). The beginning of these two religions goes beyond known history, or we say that modern scientific information regarding the universe and astronomy is not able to make us fully understand or hinder understanding these religions. For example, these two religions agree that Shri Ram was a realistic, great historical person who lived about 1 million years ago, but the present theory of history does not accept this fact.
“Ahimsa Parmo Dharma” is sole actual eternal religion and Jainism and Hinduism are two ways to see the same eternal truth. Rishabhdev Ji, also known as Adinath, the first tirthankara of Jainism, is mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas of Hinduism and a number of Jain Granths, and both beliefs have accepted that he lived long before Shri Ram (according to Jainism, Shri Ram Ji was the eighth Balbhadra who was born after the salvation of the 20th Tirthankara Muni-suvratnath Ji and attained moksha during his religious reign).
In Jainism, the first Tirthankara Rishabhadev ji is considered to be Adi, or the first Kshatriya, from which the system of Karma Bhoomi of this time cycle, the beginning of Indian civilization and culture, and the Ikshvaku clan were established. After his eldest son, Chakravarty emperor Bharat, the country was named Bharata, which is mentioned in the texts of both religions. The main reason for differences between the two religions in interpreting the same eternal truth, “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma,” may be that one came from the tradition of a Tirthankara who were absolute knowledgeable or omniscient, so they must have accurately described. The other tradition, whose gurus are not considered Sarvagya or omniscient, although they were helped by the demi-gods, has considered the great men of different times as incarnations of the same great living being whom they call supreme god, so they considered god to be the taking of incarnation in Hinduism and the creator of creation. In Jainism, God is considered to be omniscient and almighty but not considered to be the doer of creation, and considering the theory of karma, it is believed that infinite living beings of eternal existence can become god by attaining supreme status or salvation (Moksha) by leaving the eternal cycle of birth and death with their right effort (Samyak Purusharth, or rational belief, knowledge, and conduct).
In the statement “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma,” we want to draw attention to the word Parmo or Param, which means absolute (not relative to anything), thus stating that non-violence is the ultimate eternal law that governs the whole universe. In Jainism, it is called the complete science, which explains the functions and rules of the entire existential entity. Thus, the meaning of non-violence is very deep and not just confined to not harming anyone; it is more than that. In addition to it, in Jainism, it is the duty of householders to protect the nation, society, and Dharma, or law by power, which may require killing enemies, so non-violence is not at all a sign of cowardice either.
Finally, as per Jainism, the entire existence or universe is made up of six fundamental entities, as follows:
1) Space, 2) Time, 3) Matter and Energy 4) Living beings or souls 5) Medium of Motion 6) Medium of Rest.
In this sense, modern science, which knows only the first 3 out of the 6 constituents mentioned above, is highly incomplete. Hence, accepting the theories of modern science, which raise the question mark of eternal existence, can be a Himalayan blunder.
Sudeep Kumar Jain
