ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

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

Page 73

SCHOOL
TIONAL
OF
JAIN
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
I fell it appropriate to say that the efforts made in India to ensure implementation of Human Rights are very limited. Existence of inequalities and social biases here will cause the question here and voice demanding human rights. It will come up again and again. Such question will be raised as the government and its elected representatives if not sensitive to such issues. Therefore the government, its elected representatives, officers, judiciary and individuals should keep on raising demands and continue their programme for implementation of Human Rights and punish those who violate them.
We can say conclusively that Jain religion teaches everybody to be self-reliant and make efforts to enhance their life objectives. Further it says that the just and fair treatment given by you to others will earn you merit, peace and happiness. If you exploit other or cause injury to weaker section of the society due to your status or power, then pains and problems will could your future life. It is essential to spread this doctrine of self-reliance and so the human rights commission is involved in such activities. It is important that intelligent people should help ignorant people to succeed in their life but without any discrimination. Today the west should emphasize practice of non-violence, non-possession, speaking the truth, celibacy. compassion, and non-stealing instead of emphasizing just materialism. Like imparting education enhances the educational level of teachers themselves, it also gives pleasure and happiness to both the teachers and taught. Similarly compassion in a way also gives the gift of love making all happy. Life is hell in a situation devoid of fellow feeling, compassion and true love. It is duty of the leaders of the government and society to check the aggressive/violent tendencies of their members/individuals and ensure practice of fellow felling. They must provide the minimum life's necessities of the people dependent on them.
True happiness does not lie in satisfying one's own needs but in ensuring that the dependents face no problems of any kind. Jain texts got to extent that a family member who does not give charity makes his home like a cremation ground. If the philosophy of giving up personal needs and possessions gets embedded in the minds of the rich, then the relations between the rich and the poor can become very friendly and free of confrontation. Such Acts enforce implementation of Human Rights. Hence there is a need for true, simple, intelligent and compassionate people. Life style of equanimity makes even the animal live in an environment free of cruelty; then the question of the same results for human beings is beyond doubt. Though a welfare state is sensitive to the welfare of its subjects, still due to
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0