________________
COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
conflicting doctrines by systematic reconciliation. It engenders toleration and avoids conflicts.
336
The modern world is a world of expanding knowledge, both scientific and technological. The multiplication of the means of production for peaceful luxurious living as well as for war has driven the world to the brink of a precipice. The world is confronted with the problems of war, of sexual behaviour and racial integration.
The warring parties deny the existence of human brotherhood for the time being and when the ambers of war have cooled down, the wails of the innocents who have been thoughtlessly victims and of the survivors who clamour for rehabilitation only awaken humanity to the need of establishment of brotherhood. I have already shown above how the different principles contribute to a stable society and how war can be avoided by the dynamic spread of the gospel of Ahimsa. The Second World War has demonstrated how the use of inhuman technique ends in misery to both sides. Unless religious faith and moral idealism have their natural sway on human minds, there can be no safety to the society nor scope for preservation of the seven freedoms of man.
In the modern world, the search for relevance or the vadlidity of religious doctrines, cannot be left only to the religious professionals; scientists, philosophers, humanists, sociologists and jurists have to deliberate with them by providing an intellectual, i content and background to the understanding of theologica doctrines and to the practice of ethical codes in the regulation of national and international relationships. The sanctity of life has to be asserted at all costs and the dignity of personality has to be recognised in order to avoid war and racial discrimination. The principles of non-violence, love of truth, absence of greed, selfcontrol, and avoidance of undue attachment form a practical code of conduct for individuals as well as social groups. In their application to International Relationship, they are cumulatively called Pancasila requiring each nation 1) to have respect for each other's territorial integrity, 2) to adopt the policy of non-aggression, 3) to desist from interference in each other's
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
