________________
Inspite of there being a difference in the method of accomplishments, the direction being identical, the group of monks and house-holders have been united in one assemblage-while no discrimination has been kept on sex basis. Nuns and house-wives have been included in the category of monks and male house-holders respectively. Mahavira was fundamentally opponent to casteism. In this way the key-stone of Mahavira's quadripartite confederation is alikeness. The credit earned by Mahavira in giving practical shape to both the aspects of philosophy and practice of equanimity has not probably been earned by anybody else.
It was a revolutionary thought of Lord Mahavira that caste-based society would be unacceptable. In his thoughts he put it firmly that quality-based society be reconstructed. It should be defined as who should be a Brahmin, a Kshatriya or a Servant on the basis of qualities and performance? A composed, calm, clear headed and a lover of knowledge is to be named as Brahmin for his qualities not for his being born in a Brahmin family So is true about all other castes.
The ideal form of equanimity was to avoid un-natural difference between man and man on the basis of casteism, racialism and re-discrimination when progress is achieved on the basis of quality and meritoriousness it never allows inferiority to grow. Instead it offers a healthy competitiveness for more qualitative performance.
Doctrine of Equanimity in its New Perspective :
When the era changes, circumstances also variate When the system of associate lives of individual changes, then modes and manners of their thinkings and behaviour
56
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
