Jain Journal 1993 01

SR No.: 520109
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 57
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 25

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JAIN JOURNAL
Syádväda. Instead Jains believe that the only person you can change (and that is the most difficult task) is you yourself.
6. Jainism is not a political religion as are, say, Islam and Sikhism, where boundaries between religion and politics are often blurred, murky and mixed.
Though Jainism has received royal (state) patronage in the ancient past, Jainism does not teach its adherents to be politically active as a community. Jains are expected to be loyal to the ruler as far as possible, even to the extent of bearing arms in the service of their king. Jains, however, will not take up arms against a ruler, however ruthless he might be.
Whereas some religions specifically advocate the use of violence to achieve political ends, Jainism explicitly forbids the use of violence to achieve political goals. The best examples of the use of non-violence (uhimsā) to achieve political goals were offered by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (reverently called Mahatma) and by Martin Luther King, Jr, the American civil rights leader of the 1960's.
Unfortunately, all over the world, people still seek solutions to their political and social problems through violence which has proven to be a short-sighted, short-lived and impractical solution. That's why Garabedian and Coombs (1969) state, “The Jainist principle of ahiṁsā or non-injury is an anaesthesia for violence of the times ..... Our country's (the U.S.A.'s) appalling record of assassinations, mass murder, and violent crime cries out for change (p. 154).
This point of view is confirmed by Dr. Padmanabh Jaini (1990) who argues, "those individuals and societies who wish to save themselves and the world) from a way of life that constantly promotes violence" need to study and follow Jaina principles (cf p. 5).
William Eckhardt (Oct. 1992) has also argued in a similar vein recently when he says, "Simply put, we can prevent war by restructuring civilization so that human relations are more egalitarian, altruistic and compassionate".
The Jaina principles initially presented to H, R. H. Prince Philip on 23rd October 1990 at Buckingham Palace) have been recently made