Book Title: Gems of Jainism
Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

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Page 91
________________ 82 Gems of Jainism or non-violence. In Prasna-Vyakran it has been called "Bhagwati Ahimsā or Goddess Ahimsa”. Jaina values and the Modern World : All the values that we saw were then and are now very valuable, significant and relevant. The present age is an age of propaganda, and we all live in a world of social inequalities, economic disparities, moral crisis and political insecurities. The values have deteriorated and there is a mad rush after materialistic and sensual pleasures. Childhood is miles away from Godhood, youth is simply wasted and caught in frustration; and old age has become a curse. The discriminatory power to decide and choose between good and bad, between temporary and permanent, between material and spiritual, is almost neglected. Education system for children and youth is full of contradictions and narrow commercial motives. Nothing is Life or Value oriented; everything, everywhere, everybody is out to become rich and enjoy worldly pleasures What man has done of man! In the present times, at the dawn of the new millennium, instead of love and compassion, hatred and killing is seen. The perverted religiosity, the false patriotism and the narrow political considerations to grab power and money, all these have made our planet highly chaotic. There is pollution everywhere. The air, the water and the earth, the minds of individuals and traditions of the community, the strategies of the nations and the senseless egoistic swing (sway) of the internationally powerful agencies -all these need purification. Present time, full of disorder and frustrative activities, greatly need reformation. What we need is, going towards Purity and clarity. What we need is building peaceful and cordial human societies. What we need is Love and not hatred; Compassion not killing, construction and not destruction. The religious fanaticism and fundamentalism, with violence as a weapon, exhibit an extreme senseless, meaningless and valueless act of killing and destruction. In short, today, we feel the time is not good. There are crisis in all Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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