Jains Today in World

SR No.: 001794
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, Religion, E000, & E005
File Size: 24 MB

Page 18

Problem of survival of human race and disarmament
The second significant problem the world is facing today is the problem of the survival of the human race itself. Due to the tremendous advancement in war technology and nuclear weapons, the whole human race is standing on the verge of annihilation. It is not the question of the survival of any religion, culture or nation but of the whole humanity. Because of the advancement of scientific knowledge our faculty of faith has been destroyed. When mutual faith and faith in higher values of cooperation and co-existence is destroyed, doubts take place. Doubts cause fear; fear produces the sense of insecurity, which results in accumulation of weapons. This mad race for accumulation of weapons is leading to total human catastrophe. Here stands the problem of survival of humanity.
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To cope up with this problem it is necessary to develop the sense of security among the fellow beings. The Jaina Agama Sūtrakṛtāngasūtra clearly mentions that "there is nothing higher than the sense of security" which a human being can give to others. The virtue of fearlessness is supreme. It is twofold: (i) one should not fear from others and (ii) one should not cause fear to others. A real Jain is he who is free from fear and enmity. When the fear vanishes and enmity dissolves, there is no need of armaments. Lord Mahāvīra had realised this truth centuries before. In Acārānga-sūtra he proclaims that "atthi sattham pareṇaparaṁ natthi asatthaṁ pareṇaparaṁ i.e. there are weapons superior to each other but nothing is superior to asastra i.e. disarmament or non-violence. A similar problem related with this problem is the problem of war and violence. There are persons and nations who believe in the dictum " might is right" which is one of the prime cause of war. In no way, war and violence are acceptable to Jains. Uttaradhyayana says that "if you want to fight, fight against your passions. Someone to be conquered is no other than your own self". Jains 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 dispense with defensive war and occupational