The Long Reign of Revenge Must End

Revenge has had a long reign. It fostered violence. For a few pieces of silver – so to say – man is often the enemy of man. Our scriptures tell us that the habited earth called Bharatvarsha is a gift of renunciation. They proclaim that forgiveness is the attribute of the brave; cowards do not forgive and do not practice ahimsa. And they do not renounce sovereignty over the world as Lord Adinath and Bahubalidev did. Such magnificence is an attribute solely of the brave. Lord Adinath did it in search of the highest truths. Bahubalidev demonstrated that the search for ultimate truths was not possible for one seized of the love of sovereignty or inability to forgive.

In these times so driven by the love of possessions and rallying cries of revenge, it’s about time Jains reclaim the timeless message of forgiveness while letting go of anger, hate and the impetus to seek revenge.

Each year, we routinely express words of forgiveness. We seek to forgive all, especially those who’ve wronged us or who we’ve wronged. We know that the original name of our faith was Nirgranth – one without entanglement. We believe in freedom from entanglement.

A Jain consciously elects to simplify his life. The kingdom of the heavens belong to the sraman – he who relentlessly strives to simplify his life. Revenge has no place for such a being. All the space that could have been occupied by hate, violence, and revenge has been taken over by forgiveness, ahimsa, and the riddance of all that entangles and binds us to our karma.

At this time when revenge reigns over the world and bloodshed is commonplace, there is one faith that is built on the foundation of giving up on anger and revenge and break the inexorable force of karma. We today proclaim to the world this magnificent and glorious faith by the symbolic act of installing a monolith statue of Bahubalidev by the side of Lord Adinath. We say with one voice: that the reign of revenge must end and that of forgiveness ascend.

“Eliminate anger through forgiveness, pride through humility, attachment through simplicity, and greed through contentment.” Dashavaikalika Sutra, Prescription VIII, 41