Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

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Jainism in a Global Perspective
propose this coalition which can grow to be a mighty movement of human kind in the 21th century. This might be the legacy of the 20th century to the 21st century, to have a purposeful programme of action. It is not enough for us to quote the scriptures, to subscribe to dogma, or go to temple and offer prayer for our worship. This is what Swami Vivekanand said a hundred years ago. In fact he made history not by invoking the traditional dogmatic spirit of religion but the larger spirit of religion. This is what makes it quintessential in human civilization for 21st century. I propose a coalition for ecology, distress-relief and peace.
What can be a more important question, ladies & gentlemen, than peace? What can be more important than relief of distress and amelioration of the human condition? What is more important than the saving of our planet, earth, which is threatened and impelled? Why do we need a coalition? Because there is a common peril, there is common danger, which is threatning all of us today. We believe in a coalition because there is a common future, that we must construct together. We believe in a coalition because together we may overcome all the impediments of our age. I think it is necessary for us to realise that there is an important dimension to be gained by the togetherness of religions. I am not proposing a substitution for what religion on tradition does within its own system but to underline and give priority within each religious system to ecology distress relief and peace.
But it is not enough that we continue to occupy ourself only with ecology, distress relief and peace within our own system. The religious system and tradition can no longer be stranger to each other. They cannot talk to each other without involving themselves in common action programmes. In fact, I think we need a renewal of the spirit of religion in the 21st century. We need a resurgence of the spiritual quality which makes religion relevant for our age and time. And in order to mobilise the spiritual resources which are the gift of all religions, we must put together, an agenda, a world agenda, a global agenda for global action. It is important for us to think globaly and act both globally and locally. At the global level, we must forge an alliance of religions, a coalition of religions which will carry forward the spirit of religion for our age and time. What is the moral rationale of this coalition that I am advocating? The first and