Reverence For All Life: Cosmic Consciousness

It has been depicted, most beautifully and clearly, in the first line of a Shloka of Jinavangmaya that ‘SAVVESI JIVIAM PIYAM, i.e., life is dear to all.’ Every living being, to a very intense and significant extent, has the will to live. This is a desire which manifest itself. A living being wishes to live so long as he can. Any person, sentenced to capital punishment if asked suddenly to choose one betwixt Nav-Nidhi [the nine treasures] and life, he will choose life. When it is established that all living being want to live and no one has accorded us a right to kill, there should not be any attempt to kill any one. No one should be tormented. In case we cause to pain to some one, try to strike and injure or try to take some one’s life, some or the other will also try to take revenge upon us. This is the very stage to start animosity and hostility Hence, it is incumbent upon us that we respect the right of lives of all.

The second line of this Shloka states ‘PANINCHA PIYA DAYA, i.e., all living beings cherishes mercy’ in the same direction as they dislike attack on life. Suppose there are two people standing at a place before an animal. One of them holds a knife in his hand and the other a bunch of grass. Seeing both, even the animal’s eyes make it clear that the man with grass in hand is only acceptable to it. So, to give protection to all living beings should be an attitude of man. It should be remembered that one who protects others and has the tendency of Daya, he himself becomes fearless. Thereafter he has generally no fear from any person. As such protection is the most important aspect of life. So it has been very rightly said that among all the charities, protection to life is the best.

The third line has the reference that ‘ATMAVAT SARVABHUTESHU, i.e., always keeping in mind AHO ATMAN meaning thereby, to consider all living beings as ones’ own self.’ To have a feeling of pain/sorrow for all beings of the world, keeping in mind that the affliction is being caused to us, the pain will be suffered by us as by others. While doing so, the last line of the Shloka directs, ‘RARASPAROPGRIGO JIVANAN’ which means a person should contribute good will and co-operation to a great extent. The creativity of the creature consists in the fact that he mutually co-operates. It is the only condition to make life worth-living.

At the root of all the above four lines flows the current of non-violence, which gives the great message of harmony in the best possible manner, having regard for all lives. This, in fact, is the only welfaristic way for ones own self and equally for others. The concept of reverence for all lives and their protection is relevant and cannot be refuted because only through it anyone and everyone, keeping their lives safe and protected, can proceed towards the goal. Come! Let us continuously advance in this direction.

Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a renowned Gandhian scholar, Indologist, India expert and writer. He is the Former Vice-Chancellor of the CCS University of Meerut, India.

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