Non-Violence
67
Questioner: What about people crushed to death in a train
accident? How can a train have an intent to kill?
Dadashri: The train does not need any intent, but it is the
intent of those who die, which is at play here. In the past, these
people had made the intent that they did not care how they died.
When people have such intent, their death will occur in such a
way. It is because their intent becomes their karma. But they cannot
die before their appointed time of death.
Now the point you need to understand is that unless the
time of death approaches for any life-form, it cannot be killed.
Besides, the timing of death is not in anyone’s control.
Violent Intent: Very Prevalent in India
Questioner: Will it not take a long time to spread the
correct knowledge and understanding of ahimsa?
Dadashri: Even if it takes a long time, because of the nature
of this world one cannot explain it completely. This world is
completely immersed in violence. There is nothing but an inclination
towards violence, which is why this could not be achieved. There
is however, some readiness to practice ahimsa, but not everyone
understands it.
Questioner: But is there not a subtle intent of non-violence
behind one’s efforts to try and save life-forms?
Dadashri: Saving life-forms is not subtle, but overt non-
violence. Subtle ahimsa is not easily understood. How can one
understand it, when one cannot even understand overt ahimsa?
People practice overt ahimsa naturally, because they are born
into it as a result of their past lives. They practice ahimsa against
the smaller life-forms, but at home these very people, without
exception, do nothing but violence.
Questioner: In the western world there is violence in almost
everything they do, in eating, in drinking, in all acts. They kill flies