International Jain Conference 1985 3rd Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 205

The Role of the Jaina Heritage
in Today's World.
Dr. John R.A. Mayer
The underlying assumption of the present paper is that while spirituality is a global phenomenon, manifesting itself in the wisdom literature of the variety of religious traditons, nonetheless each of the major traditions has distinctive emphases and elements which constitute a unique contribution to the global spiritual heritage. Furthermore, we believe that the significance of modern technology and the facility of communications from one culture to another is that each tradition can enrich and enhance the living, dynamic aspects of every other one, so that while cultural variety can and should be maintained, mutual religious understanding and appreciation can develop among the traditions. .
Herein we shall explore the specific contribution of the Jain tradition to the human heritage, emphasizing the special need that Western societies now have to recognize, value and integrate the teachings of the Jainas into their lifestyles and their spirituality.
Although the Jaina heritage is very ancient, since the twenty-fourth of its great teachers or Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavira lived 2500 years ago, and his predecessor, Lord Parshva, is thought to have lived 250 years earlier, it has so far had a substantial impact only on the culture of India. This is largely due to the fact that its spiritual practitioners were enjoined to travel on foot only, out of reluctance to be injurious to animals others use as beasts of burden. We believe that the 21st century can augur a substantially increased global influence for the teachings of the Jaina Tirthankaras, and the sages and devotees who have kept alive those traditions. These survive not only in literatures, sutras, and architecture, the physical expressions of a civilization, but, even more importantly, in personal life-styles and attitudes whose relevance to our present world is beyond question, beyond doubt.
The first and foremost of the Jaina teachings is Ahimsa, non-violence, noninjury. In a world which is violent, and, regrettably, increasingly so, it is of utmost importance that the call to non-injury be effectively put, so as to waken the