________________
S1818181818tetesteteiset8f81818181818181818181818181818181818181818
Universal Dissemination of Jain Canonsits Need and its Ways and Means
- (Dr.) Rashmibhai Zaveri
(FCA, MA, Ph.D.) The Jain canons, knownas the agamas, contain the preaching of Bhagwan Mahaveera. Who was a JINA or a TEERTHANKAR meaning an omniscient who has conquered all human weaknesses including greed, lust, arrogance, anger, envy anddeceint. He had no enemies nor had be any worldly ambitions. That is the reason why his preaching is free from all self-centered motives, prejudices, etc. He preached religion that was purely spiritual with self-knowledge as the starting point and self-realization as the final goal. It is therefore absolutely essential that these great principles should be systematically propagated throughout the world so as to save the humans as well as flora and fauna from destruction.
He gave the message of mutual dependence of all kinds of living beings 'parasparopgraha jeevanam." It means that all sentient (jeevas) are mutually related and dependent on each other We are inhabitants of the same planet and share a common solar system. All the linving beings are affected by inter-planetary radiation. We all need clean and pure envirornment to live healthy life. Jain canons prescribe the ways and means to make us live in peaceful co-existence. Dr. Kumarpal Desai has rightly stated that only the jain scriptures can lead us towards truly global society.' (Jainism, the Cosmic Vision). Mahatma Gandhi has proved how non-violence and truthcan be translated into action by winning freedom for India. He had learned these virtues from the Jaina scholar Shrimad Rajchandra.
Jain Scriptures proffer multifaceted wisdom. They suggest complete and pragmatic solutions to our problems. They teach us the holistic ways of artistic living in every walk of life: the art of living, seeing, walking sleeping, eating speaking, ginking againg and dyeing.
RYZ
191919191919191919191918ER-RU HIIHL B1218181818181810121etters Theyprescribe ways of tolerance, forbearance, self discipline, forgiveness, self-restriant and above all, peaceful co-existence.
Their three main peaching are: non-violence or reverence for life (ahimsa), non-possessiveness or non-aquisitionness or detachments (aparingraho) and non-absoluism (anekant). If our conduct is permeated with the essence of these three virtues, it will work like panacea for the whole world.
History tells us that many great Jaina Acharyas, teachers, emperors, scholar and leaders has made great efforts in spreading the preaching contained in Jaina agamas. But their efforts were limited as they did not have access to the modern means of communication, transport and other technical inventions.
The impact of their effort was therefore limited. Today, we have very speedy means of communication, internet, mobile phones, fast transport facilities, TV, mass media etc. We can make use of these modern techniqus for the dissemination of knowledge contained in Jaina agams. Let us now discuss various preaching of Jaina Scriptures.
Ahimsa . non-violence or reverence for life
Ahimsa is the very fondation of Jaina religion and it is the quintessence of all Jaina canons. Mahaveera has given deeper insight into the minutest from of violence. Jain Agama 'Acharanga' says "you are the one who is hurt or hit when you wish to hit/hurt / kill somebody ele". To propagate the principles of non-violence, there is urgent need for :
(1) Comprehension of non-violence (2) Research in non-violence and (3) Training in non-violence.
The oldest Jaina canonical text-"Acharanga', which is the Bible of non-violence, enumerated five motives behind indulging into nonviolence.
(1) Retaliation / revenge (2) Defense (3) Fear generated by apprehension of insecurity (4) Accumulation of wealth and
RYE
