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

Page 52

47
living in an age of nuclear weapons due to which the very existence of human race is in danger. Lord Mahāvīra has said in Ācārānga that there are weapons superior to each other, but nothing is superior to nonviolence.23 Only the observance of non-violence, cansave the human race. Mutual credibility and the belief in the equality of all beings, can alone restore peace and harmony in human society. Peace can be established and prosperity can be protected on the earth through non-violence and mutual faith-only. Regard for others ideologies and faith
Fanaticism or intolerance is the another curse of our age. Jainism, since its inception, believes in and preaches for peace, harmony and tolerance. It has been tolerant and respectful towards other faiths and religious ideologies throughout its history of existence. In Jainism, one hardly comes across with instances of religious conflicts involving, violence and bloodshed. Atmost one meets with instances of disputations and strongly worded debates concerning ideological disagreements. The Jaina men of learning, while opposing the different ideologies and religious stand-points, paid full regard to them and accepted that the opponents' convictions may also be valid from a certain stand-point.
Among the causes, generating fanaticism and intolerance, the blind faith is the prime one. It results from passionate attachment, hence is uncritical or'unexamining'outlook. It causes perverse attitude. In Jainism, various types of attachment are enumerated; among them darśanamohal drșțirāga (blind faith), due to its very disposition, has been reackoned "Paramount". In point of fact, it is considered central in religious intolerance. It leads one's attitude towards a strong bias for one's own and against other's religion. Non-attachment is, therefore, considered as a precondition for the right attitude or perception. A perverse, hence defiled attitude renders it impossible to view the things rightly, just as a person wearing coloured glasses or suffering from jaundice is unable to see the true colour of objects as they are. "Attachment and hatred are the two great enemies of philosophical thinking. Truth can reveal itself to an impartial thinker."24
One who is unbiased and impartial can perceive the truth in his opponent's ideologies and faiths and thus, can possess deference to them.