Jain concept of Himsa - Violence

The concept of Himsa has been discussed in detail in the Jaina scriptures both from the `Vyavahara Naya’, i.e., the practical point of view and from the `Nischaya Naya’, i.e., the real point of view.

From the practical point of view Himsa or violence is the hurting of the vitalities by passional vibrations. It means that Himsa or injury is to hurt the Pranas, i.e., the vitalities. Any injury whatsoever to the material or conscious vitalities caused through passionate activity of mind, body or speech is assuredly (definitely) Himsa.

From the real point of view the act of injury, i.e. Himsa, is related to the internal aspects or to the intentional side of injury and it is stated that Himsa is caused even when passions to hurt others arise in the mind.