OshwalNewsI - Oshwal Centre

Giving money obtained through devious and violent means towards
religious cause If that money is donated for a charitable
cause, whatever amount he sacrifices, his liability will be
reduced accordingly.
AHIMSA AS A SOCIAL DUTY
Should one take action to prevent violence against
humans, animals and other living entities when
their suffering has come as a result of their own
karma from past life
Everyone should have strong feelings against violence.
You cannot remain apathetic and do nothing. You
should collectively show your opposition towards it and
unite against it. In doing so, you are not really opposing
violence, but you are expressing your non-violent intent.
If you dismiss them as karmic accounts beforehand,
things are likely to be ruined. You should feel deep
sorrow for the slaughtering of animals and oppose it.
A safe-haven for cows established by Lord Krishna
Many domestic animals were being slaughtered during
Lord Krishna’s time. What did Lord Krishna do to stop
this People say that he raised the Govardhan Mountain
on his fingertip. Govardhan means to increase the
population of cows. It is a metaphor for what he really
did, which was to single-handedly save the cows from
being slaughtered, hence the symbolism.
‘Govardhan’ (go=cow, vardhan=increase), mountain
because it was a mammoth task. People turn these events
into mere folklore and scientists dismiss such stories as
myths. Naturally they will question how person can hold
up a mountain on his fingertip!
FINALLY
To be born a Jain and to practice ahimsa in this life is
really the result of our past good karma. The increased
intellect (budhi) is also a result, but to use this intellect to
exploit others, is really abuse of that intellect: it is intense
rodhra dhyan - Violence
The Lord is concerned more with your intent rather than
your deed. According to the laws of nature, it is intent
that is the most important, because deeds can only be
performed if the external circumstances are favourable,
but intents are independent of external circumstances.
UNDERSTAND THIS: Whatever The Lord has said is
intended for your understanding and not to be taken
dogmatically. Do the best you can. The Lord does not
tell you to go beyond your limits. If someone finds these
practices too rigid and difficult he is not obligated to
follow them, but if he did, he would indeed benefit from
doing so
…..Submitted by Jyoti Shah
A HIMSA
THE GREATEST FORM OF SELF-LOVE
When Mahavir and later Mahatma Gandhi gave
us their philosophy of non-violence, or ahimsa, I
believe they were preaching the highest form of
self-love.
Self-love not only means accepting myself the
way I am, warts and all. It also means never
tolerating anything - even from myself - that
harms or dis-empowers me in any way.
In the things that I will not tolerate, I include
violence. It’s easy to perceive violence from an
external source. It’s much harder to detect the
internal violence we wreak on ourselves all the
time.
We harm ourselves everyday by tolerating… the
negative thoughts we think….The unhealthy diet
and lifestyle we live….The limiting beliefs we
harbour…. The unethical actions we take.
To me, ahimsa means loving and respecting
myself so that I accept nothing less than being
my best self.
Every time I give in to my fears, cheat on my
diet, tell a lie, lose faith in myself, blame and
judge myself, or do anything to harm my body
or mind, I am hurting myself. Every time I allow
myself to be less than I am capable of being, I
am committing an act of violence on myself.
It’s not easy, as Gandhi himself noted, for us
human beings to be our best selves all the time.
And by being my best self, I don’t mean being
perfect. I’m only human, after all.
The important thing is to be aware of my goal at
all times. To pick myself up, correct my course
and continue on my way every time I take a fall.
Non-violence applies not only to actions that
affect others, but also to those that affect me. It
means I will only put into my mouth foods that
nurture my body, only harbour thoughts that
nurture my mind, only be in a relationship that
nurtures my emotions.
It also includes rising above my fears and giving
up excuses about why I can’t reach my highest
goals of physical, emotional and spiritual
mastery.
If it seems like a stretch of the imagination to
equate self-mastery with non-violence,
remember that when you truly love yourself,
you wont tolerate anything that will harm you.
Don’t use ahimsa as a noun, but as a verb. It’s a
process and a way of life that requires a lot of
self-discipline. But I believe it’s worth it.
Because the philosophy of ahimsa, when applied
to myself, is the greatest form of self-love there
is.
…..By Priya Shah
Oshwal News - Winter 2006 & New Year’s Issue
35 35