Kshama Aur Vishwa Shanti - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Kshama aur Vishwa Shanti" (Forgiveness and World Peace) by Sundarlal B. Malhari, based on the provided pages:

The book "Kshama aur Vishwa Shanti" by Sundarlal B. Malhari emphasizes the paramount importance of forgiveness (Kshama) in addressing the current global crisis of tension, conflict, and violence, and highlights its role in achieving world peace.

The Demand of the Age: Forgiveness

The text begins by painting a stark picture of the contemporary world, characterized by:

Interpersonal and Societal Strife: Discrimination, animosity, competition, revenge, and unrest exist between individuals and societies.
International Conflict: Nations are engaged in rivalry, mutual hatred, and a dangerous arms race, leading to widespread insecurity.
Internal Conflicts: Many countries are plagued by internal struggles fueled by religious, caste, or political divisions. This results in bloodshed, destruction of national wealth, and displacement of millions.
Global Instability: Examples like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kuwait, and even internal issues in India (Assam, Punjab) are cited as evidence of pervasive global tension and unrest.

In this context, the author asserts that forgiveness, broad-mindedness, and mutual goodwill are the most pressing needs of humanity. The text draws a parallel between how anger cannot be extinguished by anger, hatred by hatred, or revenge by revenge, and similarly, war cannot end war, and violence cannot end violence.

Forgiveness: Generosity of the Inner Self

The book defines forgiveness not merely as letting go of pain caused by others or suppressing anger, but as a deeper, more profound virtue:

Beyond Tolerance: True forgiveness involves forgetting the offense, wishing well for the wrongdoer, and praying for their welfare.
Inner Purity and Generosity: It signifies inner generosity, purity of mind, and rectitude of conduct.
Manifestations of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is seen as compassion, tolerance, non-violence, humility, simplicity, purity, and boundless generosity that recognizes the same soul in all beings.
Empathy and Compassion: A truly forgiving person is one whose soul melts at the sight of another's suffering.
The Ideal of Gandhi: Mahatma Gandhi's act of accepting the bullets of Nathuram Godse with a smile and forgiving him before he died is presented as the ultimate ideal of forgiveness, which is crucial for humanity's welfare and world peace.

Forgiveness in Jain Philosophy

The text delves into the significance of forgiveness within the Jain tradition:

Lord Mahavir's Teachings: Over 2,500 years ago, Lord Mahavir taught humanity the message of forgiveness. He explained that just as cold iron can cut hot iron, forgiveness can instantly pacify intense anger.
Mahavir as an Embodiment of Forgiveness: Lord Mahavir himself was an embodiment of forgiveness. He patiently endured severe afflictions (parishahs) that inflicted mortal pain, such as:
- Chanda Koushik: He patiently bore the bites of the venomous serpent Chanda Koushik, teaching the serpent the right path of life.
- Gwala: He endured nails being driven into his ears by a cowherd who mistakenly blamed him for stolen cattle, yet he remained absorbed in meditation and wished well for his tormentor.
- Sangam Dev: He suffered immense hardship for six months at the hands of Sangam Dev, including attacks by elephants, snakes, scorpions, and attempts to disrupt his penance with celestial dancers. Despite this, Mahavir remained unfazed and compassionate, even expressing concern for Sangam's spiritual well-being.
- Goshala: Even his own former disciple Goshala, who became a fierce opponent, tried to destroy him with the fire of his anger, but Mahavir remained serene.
Benefits of Mahavir's Forgiveness: By enduring these afflictions with equanimity, Lord Mahavir not only won over his opponents but also spread goodwill, courtesy, and generosity, and further purified his own soul.

Forgiveness: Beneficial for Individuals and Society

The text elaborates on the transformative power of forgiveness:

Transformation of the Wrongdoer: The "nectar of forgiveness" can change a wrongdoer, shattering their ego. It turns perceived victory into defeat, leading them to repent, confess their sins, and begin a virtuous life.
Societal Awakening: Forgiveness inspires a new awakening and motivation in society, benefiting everyone.
Gandhi's Impact on British Rule: Mahatma Gandhi's forgiving nature is credited with changing the hearts of the British, ultimately leading to India's independence, which is hailed as an unprecedented victory of forgiveness.
Inner Growth of the Forgiver: Forgiveness not only promotes tolerance in society but also purifies the heart of the forgiver, fosters spiritual development, cultivates generosity in thought, and brings gentleness in behavior.
Enrichment of Life: Forgiveness makes both our inner and outer worlds pleasant and peaceful.
Nehru's Quote: Jawaharlal Nehru is quoted saying that a life without forgiveness is like a desert.

Forgiveness: The Adornment of Humanity

The text emphasizes forgiveness as a supreme human virtue:

Humanity's Greatest Ornament: Forgiveness is described as humanity's most precious treasure and its most beautiful adornment.
Universal Religious Importance: All religions place immense value on forgiveness.
Examples from Other Religions:
- Lord Krishna: Considered forgiveness as a form of the divine, he even forgone the hunter Jara who shot him.
- Prophet Muhammad: Blessed are those who swallow their anger and forgive people; Allah loves them. He also forgave a woman who daily threw garbage at him.
- Jesus Christ: Forgive your brothers, and God will forgive you. He forgave his crucifiers, praying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
- Lord Buddha: Taught forgiveness to his disciples and gave new life to those who hurt or insulted him.
Gateway to Religion: All great personalities and religions consider forgiveness as the gateway to spiritual practice. Without forgiveness, one cannot enter the path of righteousness.

Where There is Forgiveness, There is Peace

The text strongly links forgiveness to peace:

Preventing Global Catastrophe: The world stands on the brink of destruction, with the looming threat of war. Humanity has witnessed the devastation of World War II and understands that a third world war would be annihilatory for all life.
The Origin of War in the Mind: The UN has concluded that war originates in the human mind, stemming from minor tensions, seeds of malice, ego, and anger. These negative emotions corrupt the mind and give birth to the germs of war.
The Cleansing Power of Forgiveness: To prevent this, it is essential to keep the mind pure and free from tension, malice, ego, and anger. Forgiveness is presented as a powerful "water" that can instantly cleanse the mind of all impurities, just as water quenches fire and sunlight dispels darkness. Forgiveness vanquishes ego, anger, malice, and tension.
Inherent Arrival of Peace: Where there is forgiveness, peace naturally follows.

Forgiveness: The Essence of Knowledge

The book connects forgiveness with the pursuit of true knowledge:

Knowledge Grows on the Tree of Forgiveness: Lord Mahavir stated that the fruits of knowledge can only be attained on the tree of forgiveness.
Pre-requisites for Knowledge: Knowledge requires humility, politeness, and simplicity, all of which stem from forgiveness. The egoistic individual cannot attain knowledge.
Obstacles to Knowledge: Anger, the "brother of ego," along with ego, contaminates life and blocks the path to knowledge.
Meaningless Knowledge Without Forgiveness: Even if one has memorized religious scriptures, delivered powerful speeches, or written vast texts, if they lack forgiveness, their knowledge is considered meaningless.
Futility of Austerity Without Forgiveness: Similarly, extensive fasting and vows are futile if one has not cultivated forgiveness. This is a clear teaching of Mahavir.
Mandatory for Knowledge Seekers: Other great personalities also accord high status to forgiveness, making it imperative for those who seek knowledge.

How to Cultivate Forgiveness?

The final section addresses the practical aspect of acquiring forgiveness:

Not a Purchaseable Commodity: Forgiveness cannot be bought or acquired externally.
Arises from Deep Love and Equality: It arises when one deeply loves every living being, sees their own soul within others, breaks down the barriers of "mine" and "yours," and eliminates all distinctions of high-low, caste, creed, or nation.
Shared Joy and Sorrow: When one respects all beings, considers them as equals, and shares their joys and sorrows, their hearts and one's own heart become one, and all distances vanish.
Enrichment of Life: With the arrival of forgiveness, life becomes blessed and sweet.
The Mantra of "Live and Let Live": The principle of "Jio aur Jine Do" (Live and let live) becomes one's life mantra.
Mutual Cooperation and Welfare: This leads to mutual cooperation and wishing well for each other.
National and Emotional Unity: Forgiveness is the "panacea" for national and emotional unity in India, given its diverse religions, castes, languages, and cultures, which often lead to conflict.
Preventing Social Discord: Such conflicts can become so severe that they are difficult to resolve. If this continues, India's future as a unified nation will be threatened.
Citizen's Duty: Therefore, for the unity and bright future of the nation, it is the primary duty of every Indian citizen to become more tolerant, practice restraint, and behave with forbearance. The "panacea" for this is forgiveness.
Connecting Hearts: This forgiving spirit will connect us, unite our hearts, and allow us to proclaim with faith, echoing Lord Mahavir's words: "Khāmemi savve jīvā, savve jīvā khamantu me. Mettā me savve bhūeṣu veram majjham na kenai." (I forgive all souls, may all souls forgive me. I have friendship with all beings, enmity with none.)

In essence, the book "Kshama aur Vishwa Shanti" is a profound exposition of forgiveness as the fundamental virtue that can heal individuals, societies, and the world, leading to true peace and spiritual enlightenment.