Vishwashanti Aur Ahimsa - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Vishwashanti aur Ahimsa" (World Peace and Non-violence) by Acharya Mahapragna, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Vishwashanti aur Ahimsa (World Peace and Non-violence) Author: Mahapragna Acharya (with significant contributions and speeches by Ganadhipati Tulsī Acharya) Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, Rajasthan Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/003163/1

Overall Theme: The book, a collection of thoughts and speeches by Jain spiritual leaders, emphasizes that non-violence (Ahimsa) is not merely a philosophy but a practical way of life and the fundamental basis for achieving world peace. It argues for the necessity of systematic training and research in non-violence, akin to the efforts put into warfare, to truly manifest a peaceful society and a peaceful world.

Key Ideas and Arguments:

Interconnectedness of Peace and Non-violence: Ahimsa and peace are inseparable. They are presented as two sides of the same coin, with Ahimsa being the actionable path to peace.
Ahimsa as a Practical Code of Conduct: Ahimsa is not just a doctrine but a tangible way of living. It's a perpetual dharma, not just a solution for crisis situations.
The Need for Inner Transformation: The journey towards Ahimsa must begin from within. External factors like discrimination (caste, color) are artificial divisions that fuel violence. Creating an environment of love can counteract hatred.
Critique of Present-Day Education and Society:
- Modern education focuses too heavily on intellectual development, neglecting emotional and ethical growth, which is crucial for cultivating non-violence.
- The world's obsession with economic and material development, coupled with a convenience-oriented lifestyle, has fueled violence and environmental degradation.
- The current focus on societal and economic reform without individual transformation is insufficient to eradicate violence.
The Power of Ahimsa and its Training: Ahimsa possesses immense power, but its awakening requires understanding, research, training, and practice.
The Current State of Violence Training vs. Non-violence Training: Governments invest heavily in training and research for warfare, while there's a significant lack of systematic training and research for Ahimsa and the creation of an अहिंसक (non-violent) society. This imbalance actively promotes violence.
Ahimsa as a Transformative Force:
- Ahimsa requires a shift in perspective, lifestyle, and even societal structures.
- The foundation of Ahimsa training is the construction of an अहिंसानिष्ठ (non-violent) personality, with applications in family, social, national, and international life.
- Key elements for Ahimsa training include heart transformation, perspective change, lifestyle change, and systemic change.
The Role of Institutions and Governments:
- Governments should take responsibility for non-violence training, just as they do for war training.
- Organizations like the United Nations should facilitate comprehensive non-violence training programs.
- There is a need for a powerful global platform for people who believe in Ahimsa, where trained individuals can work collectively.
The Anuvrat Movement as a Step: The Anuvrat movement is presented as a practical step towards non-violence training, emphasizing vows and the cultivation of willpower.
The Importance of both Individual and Societal Change: Individual transformation (person-building) and societal transformation are interdependent. Neither can be achieved in isolation.
Ahimsa is a Way of Life, Not Just a Philosophy: The book stresses that living by Ahimsa requires active practice, not just intellectual understanding.
Key Contributors and Their Perspectives:
- Ganadhipati Tulsī Acharya: Emphasizes Ahimsa as a broad concept, with Anuvrat as its practical code. He highlights the need for inner transformation, critiques societal divisions, and advocates for a universal declaration of Ahimsa as a world religion. He also outlines a three-point program for world peace: a strong platform for Ahimsa believers, training for those working in the field of Ahimsa, and contemplation on building a capable peace army.
- Acharya Mahapragna: Focuses on the spiritual-scientific development of personality, the balance between inclination and renunciation, emotional and intellectual balance, and the need for self-limitation in possessions (Aparigraha) as a precursor to Ahimsa. He also highlights the limitations of purely intellectual education and the importance of empathy and balance in the mind. He stresses that Ahimsa training is the process of awakening the consciousness of non-possession.
The Pillars of Non-violence Training:
- Ahimsa ke Adharbhoot Tattva (Fundamental Principles of Non-violence): This section, attributed to Ganadhipati Tulsī, emphasizes universal humanism, the awakening of conscience, overcoming greed and selfishness, recognizing fundamental unity, and nurturing innate goodness.
- Adhyatmik-Vaigyanik Vyaktitva ka Nirman (Development of Spiritual-Scientific Personality): By Acharya Mahapragna, this section underscores the need for balance in tendencies, nervous systems, and brain hemispheres for developing a non-violent personality.
- Vishva Shanti aur Ahimsa (World Peace and Non-violence): Tulsī Acharya elaborates on the principle of mutual help ("Parasparopagrah Jeevanam"), the inadequacy of purely systemic changes (socialist/communist models), the inherent violence in both democratic and communist systems, and the need for a new third system that integrates individual freedom with economic order. He also discusses the barriers to coexistence like caste, color, and communal differences, and the Jain philosophy of Anekanta (multi-sidedness) as a solution.
- Ahimsa: Ek Shashwat Dharma (Ahimsa: An Eternal Religion): This section details how Ahimsa is often invoked only in times of crisis, becoming a reactive measure rather than a proactive way of life. It highlights the "heroic" aspect of Ahimsa and the need for "heart-washing" or "brain-washing" techniques to counter violence.
- Ahimsa aur Shiksha-Paddhati (Ahimsa and Education System): The text advocates for integrating emotional development with intellectual growth in education and stresses the importance of training the dormant right hemisphere of the brain.
- Ahimsa aur Sankalp Shakti (Ahimsa and Power of Resolve): This section links the roots of violence to the subconscious mind and the power of resolve (Vrat-Shakti) through movements like Anuvrat. It emphasizes addressing the underlying tendencies that lead to violence.
- Ahimsa ka Prashikshan (Training in Non-violence): Tulsī Acharya shares his personal journey of learning Ahimsa from his guru, emphasizing self-restraint, non-violence in thought and action, the interconnectedness of Ahimsa and Aparigraha (non-possession), and the importance of fearlessness. He shares practical examples of practicing tolerance and understanding opposition as a form of humor.
- Ahimsa ke Prashikshan ki Adharbhumi (The Foundation of Non-violence Training): Acharya Mahapragna posits that training can transform tendencies, not outcomes. He identifies the root of violence in the possessive instinct (Parigraha) and the need for a shift towards non-possession and fearlessness. He details the role of physical training (asanas, pranayama), mental training (meditation), and emotional training.
- Anekanta aur Ahimsa (Multi-sidedness and Non-violence): Mahapragna explains how the Jain principle of Anekanta, which emphasizes seeing multiple perspectives and finding synthesis, is crucial for overcoming one-sidedness, prejudice, and the aggression that fuels violence.
The Ladnun Declaration: The book concludes with the "Ladnun Declaration," a resolution from an international conference that advocates for a multifaceted approach to peace and non-violence, including organizational, educational, global initiatives, social work, personal efforts, and political and judicial actions. It emphasizes the need for peace education in all curricula, the establishment of peace centers, and the promotion of non-violent conflict resolution.

In essence, the book is a profound call to action, urging individuals, societies, and governments to actively cultivate and practice non-violence as the ultimate path to global peace and harmony. It provides a philosophical framework and practical steps for achieving this vital goal.