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Jainism in a Global Perspective
Jaina come from all faiths and all ethnic groups. What they have in common as a guiding principle in their lives is Respect for all Life, which includes pacifism and vegetarianism. Jainas have been unique in the history of mankind in never having condoned war, the caste system, animal sacrifice and the killing of animals for food, clothing or for any reason.
Attesting to this rare heritage, American scientist Carl Sagan said in an interview in the October 20, 1980 issue of Time Magazine :
"There is no right to life in any society on earth today, nor has there been at any former time with a few rare exceptions, such as among the Jainas of India. We raise farm animals for slaughter, destroy forests, pollute rivers and lakes until no fish can live there, hunt deer and elk for sport...."
For generations, Jaina teaching of Ahimsă has been handed over from master to disciple. For the sake of our younger generation and all planetary life, we seek to create a new dawn in human consciousness, for consciousness exists in everything which grows, regardless of the size or the form. The life force is equally worthy in all. Consciousness is an unfolding of our divine potential through loving kindness and awareness, experiencing an ascension to reach the pinnacle of universality which permeates the entire cosmos everlastingly. We want to bequeath to all not only a planet free from man-made suffering, bloodshed and war, but also the positive legacy of Reverence for All life.
Many of us are alarmed and disturbed at the sight of so much violence in the world. What should we do? Do we have to accept it? Do we have to feel helpless and give in to hopelessness? Sādhaka is the Sanskrit word for spiritual aspirant. It carries the meaning "not complacent'. We need not feel helpless if we know how not to be complacent. Instead of looking outside of ourselves for the causes of violence in the world, we have to look within. We can change the destructive trend into constructiveness if we make changes first in our own inner world. Unless we create peace inside, we won't be able to create peace outside.
The first step, therefore, is self-knowledge which helps to replace violence. Whosoever is nesting violence in his heart will one day, sooner or later, cause it to explode into her/his consciousness and then into worldly
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