Why The World Needs Non-Violence And Forgiveness More Than Ever

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 April 2023 Today is Mahavir Jayanti. Though every religion advocates peace, non-violence and forgiveness, Jainism surpasses all the faiths in its emphasis on these sublime human attributes. In fact, Jainism hinges on Non-violence and Forgiveness and believes that all other traits like compassion, empathy and piety ensue from these two primary qualities. Jainism has sublimated Ahimsa and called it Athsheersh Gunam (the highest quality) in Prakrit. Violence, whether Kaayik (Physical) or Maansik (Mental) must be avoided at any cost. The sublimation of non-violence in Jainism is indeed praiseworthy because it exhorts you to refrain even from thinking of hurting someone. All actions, good or bad, start from thoughts. If thoughts are violent, their manifestations will also be violent. So, expunge all violent thoughts to be non-violent in your actions and manifestations. Sufi mystic Baha Uddin also said the same thing: To be totally non-violent, your thoughts should also be non-violent. Violent thoughts birth bitterness and enmity and they eventually manifest themselves into bloodshed and gore. At this moment, mankind needs the 'integrated non-violence' (सम्यक अहिंसा) of Jainism. Yet another most exalted human attribute advocated by Mahavir was Forgiveness. Jainism has a specific day called Kshamapana Divas, when a day is specified for forgiveness. But Mahavir said, ' Kshanam Chhama Duram' (every moment is fit for forgiveness). Once you ask for forgiveness, you raise your bar as a human and do away with your ego and when you forgive someone, you dispense with all sorts of negativity and bitterness. Forgiveness is a two-way track. It liberates both and cleanses one's self. It also makes the world a better place to live in. To ask for forgiveness doesn't lower a person's self-esteem. Rather, it emancipates the individual and who forgives, also feels blissfully happy from within. So, forgive those who hurt you and also ask for forgiveness if you think, you wronged someone at some point in time. Ergo, Messrs Rasheed, Unknown, Naseer, Chamlija, among others forgive me if ever I hurt you intentionally or unintentionally. Mahavir summed it up so nicely, keep dropping all ill-will and negativity the way a tree sheds its yellow leaves during the autumn. Only non-violence and forgiveness at a universal level can save humanity from further degeneration and deterioration. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/world-non-violence-forgiveness/d/129483 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism