1. Do you believe that violence does not have the power of uniting people? Never do the people gather together or get united in such a large number in the name of non violence as in the name of violence. Then what is the basis of your opinion?

 

-The violent mob collects at a place in order to cause torture to the people who do not belong to their group, hence their coming together is not the result of the uniting force. When non-violent people gather together, even if they do not number more than four, their common aim is to bring different groups of people together. Violence is a dividing force, hence it cannot have the power of uniting people.

 

2. Is violence not an inevitable need of life?

 

-Violence is an inevitable need of life but do you think that abstinence from it is not necessary for life? Man gets addicted to violence in the process of committing unavoidable violence and gradually he begins to commit even avoidable violence. There may be a non-violent householder but it does not mean that he escapes even unavoidable violence. It means that he renounces avoidable violence.

 

3. Does a man commit avoidable violence?

 

-Mainly there are three causes of violence;

 

1. Ignorance. 2. Carelessness, 3. Necessity.

 

Violence caused by Ignorance-Some people commit violence because they are not aware of its consequences. There are others who resort to it because they are not aware of any other alternative solution of their problem.

Violence caused by Carelessness – There several people who indulge in violence in order to inhance their glory, preserve their luxury and satiety their ego. Inevitable violence is the helplessness of life. Violence caused by ignorance gives rise to social inequality and many other difficulties. These two forms of violence are not necessary for life even then we find thousands of people immersed in them.

 

4. All the people do not choose the path of non-violence. In such circumstances, does adherence to non-violence by some people not mean inviting difficulties for them?

 

-We are always confronted with this logical argument when we try to lead a pure life, Why is this argument not put forward when we indulge in evil i.e. all the people are not bad, in such circumstances, does adherence to evil ways of life by some people not mean inviting trouble for them? We find that a man who takes to evil path is always bold and valiant. Why should person leading good life not possess courage and boldness?

 

5. Does Ahimsa not fill our heart with a sense of cowardice?

 

-No, not at all. The fact is that Non-violence and fear are two poles apart. Their paths are different. If a man is non-violent and displays fear in his actions, he is not worthy of being called non-violent. Fearlessness is the touchstone of Ahimsa. A man is afraid of others when he inflicts injury upon them, hates them and subjects them to humiliation. A non-violent person abstains from all these things. Why should he be afraid of anyone?

 

6. This world is dominated by selfishness. Whenever a man is not able to realise his selfish ends, he turns inimical towards some people without any occasion for it. How can, then, a non- violent man remain fearless?

 

-Fearlessness originates in strength. A man without strength can neither be fearless nor non-violent, Observatism of non-violence means realization of one’s own strength.

 

7. Is the power of violence not greater than that of non-violence? 

 

-No, it is not so. Violence owes its inspiration to hatred and enmity. Non-violence derives its strength from love. One cannot always afford to hate others. One who harbours hatred perpetually falls prey to psycological diseases. On the other hand, one can afford to love people constantly. Love gives rise to happiness in the heart of a man. It keeps his mind and body healthy. One who attacks others is soon exhausted whereas one who does not hurt others is never tired.

 

8. Does excess of non-violence not cause any harm?

 

-Mere rise of non-violence in one’s life is more than what we expect. Excess of it is out of question. There is no occasion for excess in the vow that enjoins upon a householder the necessity for abstinence from unnecessary violence, or violence caused by carelessness and ignorance. The simple message of non-violence to a social being is that he should not be intent on the violence committed for the sake of his livelihood and safety and should make constant endeavour to avoid unnecessary violence.