Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

Page 112

World Problems and Jain Ethics
the higher plane of non-violence implies that the whole idea of domination of a group over another be given up in the realm of politics and economics and the principles of freedom of growth and equality of opportunity be recognised in a practical form for all peoples, in Europe or America, Asia or Africa. Non-violence in Internal Affairs :
Here is envisaged a new chapter not only in international relationships, but also in internal arrangements. For it is clear even to a superficial observer that much of the internal economy in most countries rests on a denial of equality of opportunity to large sections of the population. Our systems of caste and class rest in ultimate analysis partly on force and make-believe and partly on tradition and habit. The new possibilities of plenty have knocked out whatever rational validity had been derived from the antiquated insufficiency of material commodities to round. The way has now been cleared for the - application of different maxims to human affairs. The principle of non-violence really means that equal regard be paid to the welfare of every single man, woman and child, and equal, effective and maximum opportunities of self-realisations be placed within reach of all. The Positive Role of Non-violence :
It will thus appear that the principle of non-violence, far from being a negative percept as the term suggests, is in its practical application, a positive principle of the furthest reach. It points to a wholesale transformation in the internal Government of States as well as in their mutual contracts to a revision of social and economic arrangements. It is a matter of the first importance that all institutional re-organisation be accompanied by a corresponding mental attitude; in short, a corresponding outlook on life. As Plato and Aristotle realised, every set of institution requires a virtue, a morality in harmony with it. If the latter is not forthcoming, institutional re-organisation looses organic vitality and becomes mechanical, and in the long run, either ineffective or perverted. Hence the principle of non-violence has to be accepted as a creed. It may be desirable here to guard against one misapprehension. Dimensions of the Problem :
It is not implied above that human relationships are based entirely on force. That would be an impossible condition of things.