Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 27

Initial background
help and experiences happiness even in this, Scientific observation of ants, bees, and small insects like white ants, has given rise to a detailed description of this reality and fact. Persons who do not go so deep in their observations can also see from the study of the behaviour of birds and animals like monkeys that even birds like parrots, myna, crows etc., live and work not only for their kith and kin. It becomes clear how, in times of calamities, they put in efforts risking life to save their groups from calamitios and also how they profer to depend upon their own groups. If we catch hold of, say the youngone of a monkey, we will see how, not only the mother but all small and big monkeys in the group try to save it. We will also see how the trapped young monkey looks, not only at its own mother, but also at all other monkeys for its freedom. This daily affair in the world of animals and birds, is known and common. However, a subtle truth lies at its root.
It is true that the desire to live ingrained in living beings cannot be separated from their lives. It becomes satiating only when the living beings live in their respective groups, get helped and help others. The origin of religion lies in this spirit of seeking the help of ones group. If the desire to live on part of a living being were satisfied without living in a group and without seeking its help, there would have been no possibility of the birth of religion. There is thus no doubt about the fact that the origion of religion lies in our desire to live; the desire to live exists even in the most elementary state of evolution of life, be that an unconscious or unexpressed state.
It is observed, not only in the soft animals like the deer, but in the animals of stiff and rough nature like he-buffalo and rhenoceros, that all form their respective groups and live. We may take this as a geneaological trait or a trait inherited from previous births; but this group-sense is found positively even in the highly evolved human life. This sense of group in the world of human beings is found constantly and without any break, at the time when the tribal man of the days of old, was in a primitive state and also now when he is considered to be cultured. One fact, however, stands that this group-sense is not the same and constant