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HERITAGE OF LORD MAHAVIRA :
strive to cultivate as many of its virtues as one's consitution allows-even this much is considered to be a step towards advancement.
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Expressed in just a few words, this is what I consider to be the innermost secret of Jainism. And at the same
time, it is also a mental attitude without Necessity of which a real advancement of human applying Jaina culture is not possible. We are living
Principles to in a generation which, by all means Modern Social imaginable, encourages an unlimited Problems selfishness on the one hand, and an
unchecked violence offered to living creatures on the other. This takes the form of slaughter and war and misery. And then we think that our selfishness can be gratified by our callousness towards others and the harm we suffer can be undone by our doing violence to others. Has there ever been a greater and more fearful mistake? Why not recognize now that we have been wrong and that the way we have taken to must lead to a hopeless degeneration? Why not realize at last that selfishness cannot succeed unless it merges into a larger current of collective well-being? For there is no doubt that a beneficent attitude of general well-being, if reasonably worked out, must necessarily lead to perfect individual happiness. This clear and simple truth is the basis of that time-honoured doctrine which forms the legacy of the last Arhat. Even if taken as a symbol, it still represents such a noble image of Eternal Truth.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com