Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 034278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 137
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision approach to war, a very special thinking on it. The teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira underscore the following tenets as far as 'production is concerned :
1. There should be no production of the means of destruction.
2. There should be no assembling of the means of destruction and the import and export of war materials.
3. The training of violence or destruction should not be given to anyone.
Jain religion not only preaches us not to produce the means of violence and destruction, but also teaches us that such means should not be traded, bought or sold. Unfortunately, schools and training camps have now been established in many parts of the world, today, where persons are trained as terrorists and militants who can spread panic, violence and destruction of life and property on a massive scale by using the most sophisticated weapons produced specially for the purpose. In this context, the preachings of Lord Mahavira, detailed above, become more significant. If sincerely practised by the world, it would reduce terrorism and violence and would ensure a universal sense of security among the people.
In the present world, consumerism is encouraging yet one more type of violence and insecurity. Almost every individual wants to ensure a certain high level of consumption for himself and for his family and when he cannot obtain it by fair means, he takes recourse to theft, murder, dacoity and kidnapping. These are old evils, but in to-day's society the propounders of consumerism stimulate great temptations and the evils are multiplied. The Jain, thinking on our worldly or economic life,
Human Rights And Jainism is based on the tenets of morality, humanitarianism and compassion. It preaches us to put limits to material greed and consumption which are the very off-shoots of consumerism. It is often forgotton that when a person indulges in limitless consumption, he lends himself to fear and insecurity. For instance, those who load themselves with ornaments are always gripped with the fear of theft or physical confiscation. The Jain religion sincerely believes that consumerism has made man unhappy and has brought him perpetual dissatisfaction. He is now deprived of happiness, peace and stability. The material wealth which initially appears to lead one to happiness will ultimately make one more and more unhappy. That is why the Jain religion persudes us to put an end to aggrandisement or atleast to fix a certain limit to it. If what is preached by it is practised in the world, poverty would be eliminated and crimes resulting from it would also be reduced.
Whenever there was a war cry, Bhagwan Mahavira during his life time acted in the following way:
1. He personally intervened to halt the war, wherever it was waged.
2. He advocated the vow of non-aggression or nonretaliation i.e. as long as a country was not physically attacked by an aggressor, no country should attack the opponent.
3. He took steps to ensure that the hostility between the warring groups is completely eliminated or atleast reduced through negotiations. He actively worked for disarmament during his time. He also preached that abductions, repression and suppression of others' thoughts and actions are only different forms of the same thing called violence. It is only when
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