Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 58

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APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
you are looking forward to, completely effected at this very instant. Would this be great joy or happiness to you ?" And an irrepressible self-consciousness distinctly answered, “No”. ‘At this my heart sank within me; the whole foundation on which my life was constructed fell down.' However, without going into the metaphysical or psychological nuances of happiness it does come to us when we do not expect it as said earlier, and also it does not come to us with the standard forms of our achievements which we ordinarily think as the sources of happiness. This brings forth the need of reviewing our relationships, such as manGod relationship (the spiritual dimension), man-man relationship (societal or familial dimension), man-himself relationship (the psychological dimension) and lastly but no less important, the man-nature relationship (ecological dimension).
In bringing about changes in these relationships, ethical or spiritual principles like value of life (not only human life but all life), significance of interdependence, humility and responsibility are significant. Indian spiritualism helps us realise that after all our life on the planet earth is like a 'probationary period', when we have to be on our best behaviour. In this probationary period we can learn to control our desires so that our lives become somewhat meaningful for others as well. The notion of this life as one small dot in innumerable lives till the individual attains the ultimate goal of mokșa, can be greatly helpful in making earth livable not only for us but also for future generations. The present ecological crisis can be an opportunity to rediscover our spiritual strength of ourselves and thereby discover new ways of solving the energy crisis, pollution crisis and conservation of non-renewable resources.
However, the future alone will tell us whether we will fight these odds with more science and technology or with ethics and spirituality. The latter may be difficult but definitely the safer and more durable way.
This can be taken as a prelude to a brief sketch of classical Indian philosophy showing what type of relationship existed between man and nature or environment in contrast to what exists at present.