The universal teachings of Mahavira are recorded in Agam literature. These teachings are based on right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, often referred to as the `three gems’. He reminds us that every individual soul has infinite capacity for right knowledge, faith and conduct but that is hidden under different types of inauspicious karmas. Our knowledge, faith, conduct and working capacity all lie hidden but Mahavira showed us how the dirt of karma can be washed off by the water of auspicious karmas.
The journey of auspicious karmas starts with the practice of five vows: nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness. The practice of non-violence is the highest human value.The meaning of non-violence is to act with the goal of common welfare by viewing all beings as equal and respecting all.
Truth and non-violence are close companions. If a man steals and lies he becomes a thief; he acts like that being motivated by greed and other negative thoughts and all these factors weaken the soul. The vow of non-stealing plays an important role of strengthening the soul. Truth, non-stealing and celibacy are closely related with non-violence.
Mahavira had motivated wealthy people to go for limited possession (अपरिग्रह) of prosperity. He had related this vow with dharma. Aparigraha was very necessary to establish an egalitarian society. The lust for unlimited possession creates larger gap between poverty and property. Until proper utilization of wealth for welfare is done, a strong society cannot emerge.
These five vows are equally important for all monks.
Bhagwan Mahavira taught us the vow of limited use that is also important to protect our environment.
Our air, water, earth, fire and sky can be conducive for us only if we utilize them in a limited manner.
Mahavira taught that everyone should be vigilant while living with feelings of love and fraternity. Mahavira’s teaching of non-absolutism (anekntvda) has very great relevance in our present time. Different types of people with different types of lifestyle, language, culture and civilization are living on earth. There is diversity and there is also unity. Most clashes take place because of misunderstanding about this reality.
Mahavira emphasized the need for inclusiveness. Truth should be understood from different angles. If a thing is perceived from different angles, it seems to be different. The same thing appears to be different from different angles. We cannot negate different points of views in which truth is inherent. Mahavira had viewed the true nature of things through his experience and gave us the way of non-absolutism to understand them.
The teaching of non-absolutism has no contradiction with modern science. The infinite possibility is lying in property of things provided we have proper understanding of that. What he had taught during his lifetime is relevant even today
Greetings from all of us on ‘Mahavir Jayanti.
Dr. J.K. Garg-Dr Mrs. Vinod Garg,Sandeep-Manisha-Aarush, Munish-Surbhi-Archi-Aanya and Nimish-Surina-Nirina