________________
bliss was the ultimate goal. It was a religious atmosphere. It is not that the society was free of corruption, theft, dacoity, deception, kidnapping, and rape. But these immoral crimes were considered despicable by the society and the criminals were dealt harsh punishment. Criminals could not get a respectable status in the society. Woman always cared about her honour and protected it even at the cost of her life. The youth had an active awareness for his good conduct. Infused with feelings of moral sincerity, he considered all women other than his wife as mother, sister, or daughter.
But times changed, conditions changed, and human attitudes and aims changed. Now moral values have changed. Ethical definitions have changed. Science continues its process of inventing new methods to satisfy human needs and cravings for comforts and conveniences. But human attitude has shifted away from spiritualism. Therefore, science leads the materialistic evolution. Now all human endeavour is directed at gaining material comforts and sensual pleasures.
The means of materialistic pleasures is wealth. Therefore, the more wealth one has the more means of materialistic pleasure one can acquire. In modern times wealth cannot be accumulated by fair means. As such, in order to accumulate wealth man employs foul means like tax evasion, stealing, robbery, smuggling, adulteration, cheating, illegal trade (trading in stolen goods, bootlegging, dealing in drugs, etc.), and other such means of exploitation. Now the social trends and social atmosphere have changed. The society is not bothered about how a person has earned his wealth, it only looks if the person has wealth or not. If a person has wealth he is at once recognized as a man of high status, great man, or political and social leader. So much so that he is even accepted as a scholarly and religious person endowed with all virtues. Now it is no more required to be a scholar, artist or a specialist to gain prestige in society; the only qualification is wealth.
The concepts of good conduct, honour, and discipline have altered according to the modern values. To move in a higher circle, and to be recognized as modern and advanced it is necessary for men and women to go to clubs. There they dance taking partners at random and embracing each other. Gambling, wine, meat, and western dancing are in vogue in modern society.
306
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org