Non-violence defined

[abhi_the_great]

Forgiveness, non-violence are not enough - Mukunda Goswami

HindustanTimes.com

Saturday, May 11, 2002

 

Forgiveness (Kshama and sometimes shanti) and non-violence (ahimsa) - long

associated with Gandhi - are core values. There are many instances in

history where saintly persons, even though provoked, did not succumb to

anger or violence. It is recorded in Vedic literature, that when Daksha,

presiding over a sacrifice, first ignored Shivji, the great god did

not retaliate, although he was fully capable of doing so. This

was an exhibition of great forbearance.

 

Lord Buddha is said to have totally rejected Vedic knowledge - almost itself

an act of violence - in order make his teachings of non-violence stick.In

his rendering of the Bhagavata, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami writes:

"forgiveness is a quality of those who are advancing in spiritual

Knowledge". This may be considered the Vedic version of the maxim attributed

to Alexander Pope: "To err is human, to forgive divine."

 

However, according to Vedic injunctions there are six types of dangerous

aggressors: (1) a poison giver, (2) one who sets fire to the house, (3) one

who attacks with deadly weapons, (4) one who plunders wealth, (5) one who

occupies another's land, and (6) one who kidnaps a wife. And such persons

may be killed, with no sin accruing to the executioner. Laws of

self-defence, allow violence in these circumstances. Further, the

Manu-Samhita supports capital punishment, so that in the

next life murderers will not have to suffer for their great sins.

 

Although the passive resistance tactics of Gandhi laid the groundwork, it

was the more militant campaign led by Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian

National Army, which ultimately gained us independence.

 

The protection of citizens' life and property is a governmental necessity,

involving violence on many occasions. Yet, it is a law of Manu that one who

identifies the doer of heinous acts receives the same karmic punishment as

the perpetrator.

 

>From the Bhagavata, we read of Maharaj Parikshit saying: "O you, who are in

the form of a bull! You know the truth of religion, and you are speaking

according to the principle that the destination intended for the perpetrator

of irreligious acts is also intended for one who identifies the perpetrator.

You are no other than the personality of religion."

 

This reminds us that the finer intricacies of religious codes do require

forgiveness. But to act, as a saint when we are not one is ill-advised. So

violence, often thought to be decisively 'un-Hindu', is sometimes necessary

for the protection of our lives, for personal karma, and for a world, where

core values can be established and maintained for the good of all.

 

 

 

[karthik_v]

Violence ki jai!