Now, if a road is being illuminated by the moonlight and the headlights [of the car] are turned off , then can one drive his car or not?
Questioner: He can drive it.
Dadashri: So he will not have any doubts in that situation. However, when he turns the headlights on, doubts start arising. When the headlights are turned on, then in that light he can see that there are so many insects whirring around, they are bashing against the car and they are all being killed. In that situation, the doubt arises that ‘I have killed these insects.’
Yes, so most people do not have any ‘light’ [awareness as the Self] whatsoever, which is why they do not see the insects at all. So they do not have doubts about this at all. They do not even realize that the insects are being killed! But however much light one has, he can see that many insects. As the light increases, one starts seeing the insects in the light, that the insects are bashing against the car and are being killed. Similarly, as one’s awareness as the Self increases, He is able to See his own faults. Otherwise, people cannot see their own faults, can they? The Self is in the form of Light; not a single living being is hurt when it touches this Self. This is because the Self is such that It can pass right through living beings. Living beings are gross, whereas the Self is the subtlest. The Self is absolutely ahimsak. If You prevail as that Self, then You are undoubtedly ahimsak. Whereas if you become the owner of the body, then you are himsak. It is worth realizing that Self. For the One who realizes that Self, how can He be held liable for any fault? How can himsa affect such a One? So, after becoming the form as the Self, karma can never be bound.
Questioner: Then even if one kills living beings, karma does not get bound?
Dadashri: Himsa would not happen at all! The One who prevails as the Self cannot commit himsa. The One who has become the form as the Self can never commit himsa.
So after attaining the Knowledge of the Self, no laws apply to You. As long as one has the belief that ‘I am the body,’ all the laws are applicable, and it is only in that situation that one binds all the karma. After attaining the Knowledge of the Self, no law of any scripture applies to You, You do not bind any karma; himsa or nothing else applies to You.
Questioner: What is the practice of ahimsa like? Does it arise spontaneously?
Dadashri: It does not arise spontaneously. However, ahimsa is the inherent nature of the Self, and himsa is the inherent nature of the [relative] self. It is not the inherent nature of the [Real] Self. It is not the inherent nature that remains permanently with the Self. If we were to take the inherent nature into consideration, then there are many inherent natures. So these are all dualities.
So all you need to do is to understand this concept. This is Akram Vignan. This is the Science of the vitaraag Lords, it is the Science of the twenty-four Tirthankar Lords! However, it is because you have not heard much about it that you wonder, ‘Can such a novel concept actually be possible?’ So a fearful feeling sets in. And when a fearful feeling sets in, the work cannot be accomplished. It is only if the fearful feeling leaves, that the work can be accomplished, isn’t it!
The Real form of the Self (Atma Swaroop) is so subtle that It can pass right through fire and yet be unaffected. So tell me, how can himsa apply to It? It is when one believes himself to be the physical body, when one identifies himself with the body, that himsa applies to him. If it were the case that himsa did apply to the One who prevails as the Self, then no one would ever attain moksha. However, the arrangement for moksha is very precise and exact. You may not understand all these points from where you are currently standing, but after attaining the Self, You will understand everything, the Science will become unveiled for You!
Book Name: Non-violence (Page #125, Page #126 and Page #127)
Q. How to make Religious and Spiritual Progress?
A. Questioner: ‘On the path of ahimsa (non-violence), there is religious and spiritual progress.’... Read More
Q. How to practice Non violence/Ahimsa?
A. Questioner: Show us how to practice ahimsa. Dadashri: First of all, you should not hurt any living... Read More
Q. Why is there such a great emphasis on protecting life forms from fear?
A. Questioner: Then why has such great importance been placed on abhaydaan in the Jain... Read More
A. You should not have any himsak bhaav in your mind. You should have the firm intent that, ‘I do not... Read More
A. Today, many people argue that eggs are vegetarian since they have no life in it. However, is it... Read More
Q. Is milk vegetarian or nonvegetarian?
A. Questioner: Just as the so-called ‘vegetarian’ egg should not be eaten, the milk of a cow should... Read More
Q. Does eating meat affect one's spiritual awareness?
A. Questioner: So food has an effect on the mind, is that also certain? Dadashri: All of this is... Read More
A. Where anger, pride, deceit, and greed exist, there Atma himsa (violence towards the state as the... Read More
Q. How to cease intent violence? What does intent-death mean?
A. For people of the entire world, raudradhyan (an adverse internal state that hurts the self and... Read More
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