THE CONCEPT OF AHIMSĀ IN BUDDHISM AND GANDHISM – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The history of mankind is the history of the endeavor of human beings to live a moral life. Moral life has not always been the same. It keeps on changing from time to time. But there are some moral principles like Ahimsā[1], which do not change with time and place. What are those moral principles? What are constituents of a moral life? How to achieve it? Why do human being struggle to lead a moral life? These questions have always occupied the human mind. The two most dominating personalities of India, Buddha and Gandhi, have dwelt on the notion of Ahimsā as the most important aspect of moral life. The purpose of this study is to highlight the parallels and divergences in the mindsets of the two most influential persons of the world through a comparative study of the thought of Buddha and Gandhi.