Applied Philosophy Of Jainism

SR No.: 032589
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publication Year: 2018
Total Pages: 82
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 65

Chapter III JAINA CONCEPT OF NON-POSSESSION
(APARIGRAHA)
Aparigraha is the Need of our Age We are living in the age of science and technology. The advancement in our scientific knowledge has removed our religious superstitions and false dogmas. But unfortunately and surprisingly, side by side, it has also shaken our mutual faith, and faith in moral virtues as well as religio-spiritual values. The old social and spiritual values of life, acting as binding on humanity and based on religious beliefs, have been made irrelevant by this scientific knowledge and logical thinking. Till date, we have been unable to formulate or evolve a new value structure, so necessary for meaningful and peaceful living in society, based on our scientific and logical outlook. We are living in a state of total chaos. In fact, the present age is the age of transition, old values have become irrelevant, and new ones have not been yet established. We have more knowledge and faith in atomic structure and pow than the values needed for meaningful and peaceful life. Today, we strongly rely on the atomic power as our true rescuer, and discard there religio-spiritual values as mere superstitions. Mr. D. R. Mehta rightly observed, "In the present day world with religion getting separated from daily life and spreading commercialization, killing (violence) has increased many-fold and sensitivity to (other) life whether animal or human has declined in proportion." For us human being is either a compiled machine or at least a developed animal, governed by his instincts endowed with some faculties of mechanical reasoning. Thus, we have developed a totally materialistic and selfish outlook. The advancement in all the walks of life and knowledge could not sublimate our animal and selfish nature. The animal instinct lying