Importance of non-violence

2nd October is a,” World Non violence”, day. A day has been set aside by the United Nations to think about importance of non violence. This would have been deemed necessary due to the excess violence going around in the world at all levels.Violence has many disadvantages for individuals, communities and even nations. So many people are killed or maimed due to physical violence at a large scale. Children are left homeless and orphaned, people are displaced and become jobless and refugees. There is outbreak of diseases when large numbers of displaced people live in refugee camps. All this suffering happens because of violence perpetuated by a group of people against fellow human beings. Apart from this, the affected individuals get traumatized mentally due to the shock of witnessing such violent inhuman acts. Even at individual level violence committed against anybody harms that person in multiple ways. If one considers the advantage if any of violence, it is absolutely no. Even the person or persons responsible for the violence do not live peacefully after committing it. They live in constant fear of being caught or punished for their wrong doing. They also fear retaliation by their victim. Result is the perpetuator is also constantly unhappy and stressed. Therefore to make the world a better place, it is important to shun violence and understand the importance of non violence. If there is peace all around, people can work fearlessly for long hours. There is no stress of any kind, thus people at large would be happy and healthy. This would automatically result in increased productivity in the society and prosperity and happiness for all.This is not a utopian idea. When individuals understand this and adopt an attitude of shunning violence, it can be materialized.Violence is basically of 3 kinds. First is by speech. A person can hurt his fellow human being by using harsh words. An individual can incite riots by giving a hate filled speech. This kind of violence is as bad as the act of physical violence, i.e. hitting anybody physically. This second type of violence by action is the one which people mostly interpret as violence and understand it.The third type of violence is violence by thought. A person may not hit anybody directly, not speak any bitter hurtful words, but in his mind, he may abuse or hurt somebody. Such violent thoughts do not hurt anybody, but are considered to be violence of a kind. The one harboring such thoughts would definitely not be peacefully mentally and would remain stressed. True state of absolute non violence can be reached only when violence by words, action and thoughts, all can be removed. Ego, greed and jealousy are the main basic causes underlying violence. An individual with inflated ego usually does not like anybody opposing his views and may become violent. Greed for acquiring power, fame and wealth has been the basic cause for much violence perpetuated at community as well as global level. Greed to capture resources or wealth of another person is yet another reason for many actions of violence committed by criminals. Jealousy on seeing another person with better things or resources, also leads to violence. To adopt a policy of absolute non violence, it is necessary that people understand the underlying causes of violence. If every person can overcome his ego and greed, it will be a big step in curbing violence. Jealousy is yet another negative trait which needs to be controlled. If a person learns to be happy in the achievement of others, feels good to see others prosper, he will always remain happy and carefree. No thoughts of violence will ever enter his head. If all people practice to shun these negative traits, the violence going around will be much reduced and the world will become a much better place.