________________
106
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXIV, No. 2 October 1999
unequivocally spelt out an undying faith in man's desire to live against the fear of mass destruction by nuclear weapons. It also reflected passionate desire of man that life must not perish. This conviction leads us to believe that man's ethos must enhance and enliven to face the calamity and this quest can only harness and consumate with religion.
Now to education, which is the main source of human altruism. I here recall the letter, which Abraham Lincoln wrote to the teacher, when he sent his son to school. He spells out certain virtues, which must be imbibed in the young mind, as virtues do weave and spin the moral fibre of life. Before I launch out into this subject. I do not feel chary to quote that the history of power politics is nothing but the history of international crimes and mass murder. This history is taught in schools and some of the greatest criminals are extolled as its heroes (Karl Popper in Open Society and its Enimies). As per UNESCO International Commission Report on Education for the 21th century. education has now to be looked upon a life long undertaking. It has to be a constant process of upgradation of skills and sharpening of consciousness. Consciousness necessarily connects itself to the development of ethical code, which brings into play by educational institutions as set the standards for altruism education. Education is the single effective way enabling people to achieve their inner potentiality. One favoured method of moral education that has been invogue now is called 'values clarification'. Moral education must have the moral betterment as its explicit aim. Character education should be the objective. Education in the new era will have to be morality based i.e. religious relatively. The education system needs changing but so does our attitudes towards it.
This write up is an exordium to the return to religion in the 21st century. Indian tradition in its noble aspects has always stressed on a religious life, on collective goodness and moral code of conduct. This is why the cult of non-violance is gaining spurs all over the world, Sometime American Senators presented a memorandum to the president that the statue of Mahavira sādhu must be installed in Washington DC-to Wispire non-violence amongst the citizens. Statues of several of war are no more needed. Martia Luther adored the picture of Mahatma Gandhi an apostle of true humanitarianism......... The baneful effects of the age of technology can be overcome by a strong religious conviction and adherence to moral virtues. We have to realise that might is not right, but right is might, and thus, the new dawn will redden in the wake of present dark nights. Technology has embraced religion --not dogmatic and individual, but universal and cosmopolitan in character, and mankind will be safe and secure is its lap.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org