Book Title: Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth
Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust
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The Universal Message of Jainism
in the name of nationalism and imperialism millions of human beings could be butchered, when internationalism is ridiculed and peace causes exploited by shrewd politicians, our Jaina friends of India woula organise a World Foundation of Ahims a" as the noblest contribution of India to Humanity. I appeal to my Jaina brethren to come forward to consecrate a "World Peace Trust to facilitate researches into Jaina and other Indian texts ou Peace and to distribute the results to all parts of the world, with a view to developing a new system of education and a new philosophy of life towards which the League of Nations and allied organisations are groping. The Orient and the Occident may safely and fruitfully collaborate in such an universal cause of human welfare. Hoping on the esrly realisation of this noble dream and saluting the great Jaina masters, I close this humble tribute to Sri Atmananda, quoting only two out of the many invaluable texts from the great Jaina literature: -
"I speak thus. All saints (Arhats) and Lords (Bhagavats) in the past, in the present and in the future, they all say thus, speak thus, announce thus and declare thus: One may not kill, nor ill-use, nor insult, nor torment, nor persecute any kind of living being, any kind of creature, any kind of thing having a soul, any kind of beings. That is the pure, eternal, enduring commandment of religion, which has been proclaimed by the sages who comprehend the world. You yourself are the being which you intend to kill; you yourself are the being which you intend to ill-use; you yourself are the being which you intend to insult; you yourself are the being which you intend to torment; you yourself are the being which you intend to persecute. Therefore the righteous one, who has awakened to this knowledge, and lives according to it, will neither kill nor cause to kill." (Ayasramga-Sutta. I, 4, 11, 5, 5, 4)
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"Ahimsa is like a loving mother of all beings,
Ahimsa is like a stream of nectar in the desert of Samsara,
Ahimsa is a course of rain-clouds to the forest-fire of suffering,
The best healing - herb for the beings tormented by the disease called the perpetual return of existence, is Ahimsa."
(Hemachandra Yogasashtra II, 50 f.)
[ Shree Atmaramji
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