ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 72

Principles of Jain religion can work like a panacea to achieve the highest level of spiritual beneficiation provided they are preached and practices in the right way. Sermons of Mahāvīra are full of aura and are the means to attain the supreme and infinite powers and possibilities by exercising self-restraint, self-confidence and purification of the self. By practicing these sermons, exploitation of Human Rights will automatically be eradicated. In other words, they are self denying ordinance.
Another objective of human rights commission is to ensure upliftment and welfare of all human beings. The constitution of India prohibits discrimination against anyone based on his caste, color, religion, sex or birthplace by the state. Jainācāryas have called this doctrine as Sarvodaya Tirtha in the Jain texts. Uplift of everyone is sarvodaya, i.e. all human beings get equal opportunities to realize their objectives of attaining the highest ideals of knowledge, power, positions etc, based on their capabilities and efforts.
People want that the government should stop exploitation of human rights by anyone. The government is making efforts in this direction but a lot more is yet to be done. For examples the social evils of child marriage, killing the fetus, flesh trade in women, rape, and other social ills are yet to be eradicated completely.
Fight against human rights exploitation is more in practice then in the doctrine. Jain religion also provides detailed doctrinal explanation of these, but their application and practice is not found in details. More important is for an individual to be able to learn ways of getting his rights from the state, society and the family. Actually the government and non-governmental bodies make their main cultural objectives of the 21st century to use the media of educational curriculum, literary writings, and mass communication through print and electronic media to arouse the need to safeguard one's human rights. Even though Indian religions have presented these aspects in proper form but our religious teachers were not equipped to implement them. However they gave these the moral sanctity and used it to preach these to the masses.
Dominance of Indian society for a long time by foreigner colonial powers and the religious teachers have institutionalized the exploitation of Human rights which need to be eradicated now by enhancing significantly the mental setup of Indian to demand their right for equality and eradication of slavery.
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