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Aņuvrata the Jaina Path to Self-Transformation and World Peace 283
the latter very difficult to achieve. It was this insight that lay behind aņuvrata. If one finds complete restraint impossible, let him exercise minimum necessary restraint. Anuvrata implies such a minimum necessary restraint. Perfection or the greatest being cannot be divided but it takes several steps to reach it and each step upwards brings the destination closer. The aņuvrats or diminutive vows are graded steps to reach moral perfection.
What laid to the birth of Anuvrata movement were the prevailing circumstances after India got independence. After independence every thing was new - the elections, the Government, the administrative experience and the social order. Other leaders got bogged down in their respective political parties. The unity attained during the struggle for freedom was lost. Basic problems which remained hidden under the dazzle of independence surfaced gradually casteism, untouchability, communalism, economic disparity, rising cost and beggary were India's basic problems. Then there were post-independence problems like indiscipline, love of office, over-ambition, regionalism, terrorism and language controversies. These and other similar problems caused a lot of suffering to the people as well as a decline in their character. Meanwhile, there was growth in education and general intellectual development. Old beliefs were weakening. New principles were coming into existence. Religious leaders were decrying intellectuals who in turn were trying to reinterpret the past to the former. On the whole the situation was more destructive than constructive and generated more excitement than introspection. None was satisfied with it. Dissatisfaction prevailed in all fields - social, religious and national People were growing impatient of loss of character and indiscipline. The Aņuvrata Movement was bom in these circumstances. Emphasizing old vows and values, although it had hothing new in it, it gave a correct assessment of the prevailing situation, The people felt assured because the movement was launched as both a diagnosis of and a remedy for the prevailing malady.
Acārya Śrī and his companions did not imagine the wide extent of the Aņuvrata Movements's welcome and impact. Initially, they had a modest desire to change the outlook of those in their immediate contact. These people should regard religion not merely as part of worship but as
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| SR No. | 014010 |
| Book Title | Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago |
| 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 |