Peace Religious Harmony and Solution of World Problems from Jaina Prespective

SR No.: 001657
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Social
File Size: 4 MB

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weapons are considered as means of security, yet these, instead of giving security, generate fear and a sense of insecurity in the opposite party and hence a mad race for accumulation of superior weapons starts. Lord Mahāvīra had seen this truth centuries before that there is no end to this
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mad race for weapons. In Ācārānga (4th cent B.C.) he proclaimed "atthi sattham pareṇaparam natthi asattham pareṇaparaṁ"i.e. there are weapons superior to each other, but nothing is superior to asastra i.e. disarmament or non-violence'. It is the selfish and aggressive outlook of an individual or a society that gives birth to war and violence. They are the expression and outcome of our sick mentality. It is through firm faith in mutual credibility and non-violence that humanity can get rid of this mad race for nuclear weapons and thus can solve the problem of its survival.
The Problem of War and Violence
At the root of all types of wars and violence there lies, the feelling of discontentment as well as the will for power and possession. According to Sūtrakṛtänga, the root of violence is attachment or will for possession. A book namely "Tension that causes war" tells us that economic inequalities, insecurities and frustrations create group conflicts. It is true that in the old days the cause of war was only will for power and possession, whether it was the possession of women or land or money. Butnow-a-days economic inequality, over population, sense of insecurity and unequal treatment on the basis of caste, creed and colour may be added to the causes of war. Jaina thinkers have all the time, condemned war and violence. In Uttaradhyayana, it is said "If you want to fight, fight against your passions. It is much better to fight with one's own passionate self than to fight with others, If some one is to be conquered, it is no other than your own self. One who has got victory over one's own self is greater then the one who conquers thousand and thousand of warriors'.
Though Jainas aim at complete eradication of war and violence from the earth, it is not possible as long as we are attached to and have possession for any thing-living or non-living, small or great. There are persons and nations who believe in the dictum 'might is right'. Though aggressive and unjust, war and violence is not acceptable to Jainas, they agree to the point that all those who are attached to physical world and have a social obligation to protect others life and property are unable to