Religion: Practice and Science of Non-Violence

Aggression and violence-like hunger and sex-is an instinct in all living beings, animals or vegetables. A certain amount and quality of aggression is essential for men’s survival and progress. But there is a limit beyond which aggression defeats its own purpose and becomes destructive. This has been observed and pondered over by sages and wise men since ancient times. As a result, all religions teach non-violence. There are organizations devoted to lead men through non-violent means. Non-violent resistance and Satyagraha endeavour to secure social justice for the individual or the society through one’s own suffering rather than that of the opponent. All these measures have, however, succeeded to an extent only. The author poses a problem-Is there then any hope that we may succeed in lessening violence around us? According to him there is a way, and that is through a scientific understanding of the basis of violence in man, and taking appropriate measures as a result of that.