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JAINISM AND GLOBAL PEACE
(Dr. Dhaval Nemchand Ghalla)
The Seventeenth century has been called the age confronted with the finiteness of his individual existence of Enlightenment, the eighteenth, the age of Reason, and with the questions as to it meaning. At the same the nineteenth, the age of progress and the twentieth time traditional values and beliefs no longer seem selfthe age of anxiety. With the conquest of many physical evident, and he lacks the conforting absolutes that gave ills which have afflicted him throughout his history, man security to his forebears. Unfortunately, advances in the has become increasingly aware of the role of understanding of man have legged far behind those in psychological factors in human existence. No longer are physical sciences. We know much about the atom but Civilized men - atleast the fortunate majority - the victims not nearly enough about love or the values needed for a of famines and epidemics. The black plague has been meaningful life. With all his uncertainties and anxieties replaced by a host of subtler psychological plagues - modern man has a few moral beliefs to guide him. As a worry, value conflicts, lonliness, disillusionment and the consequence, he stumbles around among a myriad of doubt as to one can weave a successful course through religions, philosophies and social programs, seeking the complex image of freeways and blind alleys that answers that will satisfy him. make up modern existence.
Most of us are grihastha's (Shravak Shravikas) in Modern man's path to happiness is not an easy Jains, or householders, pursuing the four Pururusharthas one. It is beset by seemingly endless personal and social namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharmabindu problems. Wars have disrupted personal life and left describes that Dharmas (the pursuit of spiritual their mark of mutilations, grief and social unrest. Periodic excellence.) Artha the endeavour to acquire wealth and breakdown and runways of the economic machinery as Kama the endeavour to fulfil the wordly desires) these well as automation and other technological innovations three aspects of human activity are inter-related and have taken their roll in millions of victims of inseparably integrated and united. We should carry out unemployment and dislocation. The human population these three endeavours in such a way that none of explosion is creating difficult political and social problems them is affected or neglected. If any one is affected or and tensions, Racial discrimination, with its unreasoned neglected the basic purushartha namely Moksha will be feeling of superiority, hatred and resentment, hurts both affected. As most of us in the world are householders. I individual and community. Homes broken by divorce, would emphasise on Vrata (Vows) which would be leave emotional scars upon parents and children alike. applicable to householder as individual for each indivisual Excessive competition, conflicting pressure groups, is architect of his own destiny it is correctly said that a impersonal bureaucracy, rapid social change, and the mind can make heaven of hell and hell of heaven. ever present threat of global atomic war further aggravate
From Social point of view, then we may briefly. modern man's anxieties.
review the ethical code of Jainism. It begins with five Cure is an age of tremendous growth of knowledge. anuvratas or little vows. More scientific and technological discoveries
1) Non violence (Ahimsa) have been made in the past fifty years than in previous recorded time and Science is
2) Truthfulness (Satya) having an increasingly profound effect on
3) Honesty (Asteya) all phases of our life. The man has set foot on the planet other than one on which he
4) Continence (Brahamcharya) was bom. Yet paradoxically his scientific
5) Stoicism (Aparigraha) advances have led to shrinking of his world
The second great contribution of Jainism so that he must daily face international
to human intellect is Syadvada or Anekanta. problems as well as national and local ones. And as man ventures into the vast universe,
Logic of probability and Relativism.
Dr. Dhaval Nemchand he is increasingly and inescapably
Ghalla
It is the individual irrespective of sex
SHRIMAD JAYANTSENSURI ABHINANDAN GRANTH/ENGLISH SECTION 31 Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
स्वार्थ बुद्धि का त्याग कर, करो सदा शुभ काम ।
जयन्तसेन सुसिद्धि का, यही प्रतीक ललाम ||
| SR No. | 012046 |
| Book Title | Jayantsensuri Abhinandan Granth |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Surendra Lodha |
| Publisher | Jayantsensuri Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti |
| Publication Year | 1991 |
| Total Pages | 344 |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth & Articles |
| File Size | 88 MB |