Jain Journal 2001 10

SR No.: 520144
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 49
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 19

RENUNCIATION: THE KEYNOTE OF LORD MAHĀVĪRA'S LIFE AND TEACHINGS
DR JYOTI PRASAD JAIN
Human beings are instinctively actuated by an urge to acquire and possess external objects for the satisfaction of their physical appetites and the gratification of their sensual desires or their ego, very often at the expense of others. In this constant pursuit of worldly acquisitions, of power and pelf, one is apt to forget that his activities hurt others, contravene their lawful rights and endanger or even destroy their life and property, sometimes very callously and cruelly. This gives rise to various types of social inequalities, class wars, racial or communal conflicts and political conflagarations, at times involving the entire human race. Besides wholesale destruction of life and property, peace is disturbed, anarchic conditions prevail, and all kinds of suffering and misery are the order of the day. Human progress is retarded and the society as a whole degenerates. Man forgets himself.
Social scientists, economists and politicians try their best to find out means and methods to counteract these disturbing tendencies, but they have all so far failed to get at a permanent solution. Everybody fears and hates suffering and wishes to be happy. To a world-engrossed mind happiness consists in the satisfaction of desires. But desires have an uncanny tendency to grow and multiply, and it is absolutely impossible to satisfy fully all the desires that an individual may have entertained.
It is imperative, therefore, that a person should earnestly try to curtail his or her wants and to set a limit to his or her acquisitions and possessions. Even a pioneer of modern socialism is found advocating that every person at a certain stage of his life should say it to himself, "Here I will stop; that which I have already earned is enough and I shall not try to get more." This is what more than 2500 years ago Lord Mahavira advocated though in a more scientific, plausible and practical way. He says that it is not enough that you curtail or limit your possessions, no doubt by using the surplus for the benefit of others, but you should never dream of depriving others of their legitimate possessions or acquiring anything by dishonest or unlawful means. But, this you can do provided you have annihilated the evil attachment to worldly things. There must first be the spirit of