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A New World Order
Today man has created massive means of destruction, which would one day devour the entire human race. The star wars are staring at the world with greed. In the days to come, tanks, rockets and bombs would cease to have any power. Wars would then be fought with poison gas. The nature of weapons has changed, but the craze of man to kill is increasing and multiplying every day. That is why many today want to take shelter in the teachings of Tirthankar Mahavir.
Dr. Kumarpal Desai kumarpaladi@gmail.com Tel. 91 (79) 2660 2675)
All this reminds us about the words uttered by the renowned French novelist Victor Hugo when he said, "A timely thought carries greater strength than all the armies of the world taken together."
Let us now think of those principles and teachings of the Jain religion that may give relief in distress to the suffering humanity, which today is facing a dilemma of life and death. The first and the foremost principle of the Jain religion is renunciation. The Jain scripture 'Shree Sutra Krutang Agam' in its first chapter deals with this principle. Lust for possessions leads to violence, fear and recourse to sins and to falsehoods also. It has converted man into a demon. It encourages in him the craze for material pleasures. That is why great thinkers today say to us, "The less I have, the more I am."
Dr Kumarpal Desai, is
a well-known writer, an author of over 100 books and a speaker in international
forums. He has been a recipient of a number of awards including the
prestigious Padmashri for his outstanding services
and for having
authored books in Gujarati, Hindi and English on Jainism, philosophy and spirituality. As a former Dean
of the Faculty of Arts of Gujarat University, he has guided over twenty Ph.D.
students in the disciplines of literature, journalism and
Jain philosophy Dr Desai is the co-coordinator
of the Institute of Jainology and the president of the Gujarat Sahitya Parishad, the most prestigious literary organization in Gujarat.
Tirthankar Mahavir says, "As the bee carefully draws fruit juice from the bud of the flower without harming or hurting it, so also the one who aspires for emancipation would hurt least or harm no one through his actions." In the coming age, this very concept of renunciation would offer solace and would give new direction to the suffering humanity. Mahatma Gandhi presented the same concept of renunciation in a new light and in a new context. He said that by advocating the concept of trusteeship, if you possess something more than what you really require, the surplus or the excess actually belongs to others.
The five leading vows prescribed by the Jain philosophy begin with Ahimsa i.e. non-violence. Today when the whole world is involved in widespread violence, it will have to heed to the principle of non-violence with sincerity, devotion and respect more than what was shown to it in the past. Violence at the individual level and also at the level of the whole universe is increasing day by day in one form or the other. From every six rupees (currency of India) collected by way of tax from the starving millions, at least one rupee is being spent on the army and on armaments. What does one get in return? Fear, terror and insecurity. And the irony is that the same super powers, which have built these arsenals of destruction, have to now enter into mutual treaties to eliminate them. A few countries, which on one side are talking of peace, are preparing for war on the other. Ahimsa is not a supreme precept; it is more a way of life, which gives shape to humanity and to human life. The most ancient Jain scripture 'Shri Acharang Sutra' says, "Not to kill or harm or destroy any animal, living species or being is the purest, permanent
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