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________________ The Cardinal Tenets of Mahavira and Jainism 125 evolution may reach its summit, and peoples of all countries may one day reach the same level of moral elevation, which will make resort to violence and arbitrament of arms, things of past history. The present endeavours in the inter-national plane for settlement of disputes by mutual understanding are good omens for the future consummation. The philosophy of anekanta necessarily entails respect for the other possible view-points. Our differences mostly spring from our inability to appreciate the justice of the standpoint of others. If we cannot agree and reach unanimity, we must educate ourselves to agree to differ. We must not be intolerant. Intolerance breeds fanaticism which is the worst passion of the human mind and which has been responsible for untold miseries in the past. We are sure to hasten the course of devolution if we ponder over the failure of our ancestors and try to avoid the fallacies which checkmated the progress of mankind. I am happy to remind you of the exhortations of our Rajyapal who has in his different addresses emphasised the need of patience and of appreaciating the spirit which creates differences. Our old religions were of great service to mankind' through long centuries of history. They brought solace and spiritual satisfaction to their followers. They conferred benefits on mankind, because they are founded upon eternal truths. But the differences and rivalries between one religion and another arose only when the attention of the adherents was diverted from the eternal to ephemeral and from the essential to the unessential. So far as the eternal principles are taken into consideration there is very little room for quarrel over religion. But as religion necessarily expresses itself in formal observance of rituals, which are determined by the exigencies of historical and geographical circusmtances, differences arise. Every religious man is justified in clinging to his faith, and the observance of the time-honoured modes of worship. But when one endeavours to impose his mode of religious practice upon others who have their different codes of religious conduct, religion becomes a scourge and curse. This aberration is directly engendered by the exuberance of enthusiasm and emotion. Emotionalism untramelled by rational thought is a prolific source of mischief. In these days of advanced scientific and philosophic speculations, this sort of emotionalism has become an anachronism. We must be content to resort to persuasion, and shun coercion or exploitation. We must realise the limitations incident to the flesh, and must not let ourselves behave as perfect models and patterns, and look down upon others who, for want of proper milieu and educational opportunities, may not have reached the standard of the
| SR No. | 012088 |
| Book Title | Vaishali Abhinandan Granth |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Yogendra Mishra |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa |
| Publication Year | 1985 |
| Total Pages | 592 |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth |
| File Size | 17 MB |