Jain Journal 1976 10

SR No.: 520044
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 40

Relevance of Jainism to Modern Times
A. K. JAIN
The 25th centenary celebrations of Lord Mahavira's Nirvana draw to a close. We have just listened to an illuminating talk about Mahavira and his teachings. It is but natural if we ask ourselves, does a religion founded thousands of years back and professed by not more than three million people, have any relevance in today's world? What is Jainism? The word “Jain' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Jina', which means 'Conqueror'. Anyone who has conquered the senses is a 'Jina' and his follower is a Jain. The Jains believe that there were 23 Tirthankaras before Mahavira and that Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara. "Tirthankara' literally means 'ford-maker-a person who makes bridges across the stream of existence. Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Parsvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, was definitely a historical figure who lived in 8th century B.C. But, the present form of Jainism is the contribution of Mahavira.
l’ll now take up some basic tenets of Jainism and attempt to examine if they have any relevance today, particularly to the community at large. Jainism lays great stress on samyak darśana, samyak jñāna and samyak caritra, viz., Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. All three must go together. One is not complete without the other. Even a right action is nullified if the motive is impure; similarly, the best of motives cannot justify an immoral action. This is exactly what Mahatma Gandhi stoutly maintained. The means are as important as the end-the end just cannot justify the means. We are living in a world where people do lots of things and get away with them. Even this year there have been events the world over which have made us exclaim, 'It seems one can get away with anything' or, 'Nothing succeeds like success'. Now this is a very dangerous symptom. If not checked in time, it leads to a coarsening of the conscience and to a particularly ugly form of cynicism. This is the thinking that leads to the annexation of Tibet or the 1971 happenings in Bangladesh. This is what opens the floodgate to Watergates. If we are to ensure that politics retains some modicum of decency, that it does not degenerate into gangsterism, we may profitably turn to the three gems of Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Action.