JAINA Convention 2007 07 Edison NJ

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 50

PEACE ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH DIALOGUE
Repeated efforts to bring peace seem to have failed. The situation relating to existing conflicts are moving to a point of no return. New conflicts are sprouting all over the world. Each of these conflicts is threatening to take the centre stage. No one seems to have a clue as how to reduce tension and manage the conflicts within a local area, to contain it and then to bring peace by due process of dialogue. The missing link has been the non involvement of the intellectuals to take up the responsibilities to find a solution. It has been often seen that when ever intellectuals have participated in the dialogues, emotions have given way to reasons, and a solution has emerged only after a due process of reconciliation through dialogue.
HH Amrender Muniji 011-91-11-27052030 (India)
908-362-5936 (USA)
The participation of intellectuals brings rationality and the ability to evaluate the actual causes without biases. Fairness in the judgment process is the key for success. Intellectuals also bring freshness in the thought process. The positions that conflicting parties took earlier, normally melts down in the presence of truthful thoughts.
Most of the conflicts are built on small differences. As time elapses, supporters on both sides of the fence keep adding on series of small differences to inflame passions. The issue, over a long period, becomes very complicated, not easy to unwind and difficult to solve. Do you remember the Punjab problem in India? It started by two States of the Federal Government claiming Chandigarh city as their capital. The issue blew up to demand the separation of Punjab from India. Later after a long battle and bloodshed, the matter was sorted out. Peaceful negotiations and long deliberations have resulted in the two States sharing the same capital.
HH Amrender Muniji is
an accomplished scholar and had written his thesis on the
history of Jains traveling
to East and North China. He regularly visits North America and gives lectures to Jains
and non-Jains alike. He is widely traveled and a speaker in interfaith programs and international conferences. He has authored the book 'Yoga-Siddhi'; conducted
numerous yoga camps; and organized medical camps to help the needy, and preached compassion among numerous
prisoners. Muniji was a close associate of the late HH Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj of Siddhachalam.
It has to be understood that baseless talks are generally the cause of misunderstanding. This is to be avoided by all means. It has to be kept in mind that as soon as we realize that we are deviating from our path of understanding, we should immediately reconcile to the deviation and revert back to peaceful dialogue.
Bhagwan Mahavir, who established the present order of Jainism, has clearly spoken in favour of self appraisal of the deeds and speeches of the day. According to Him, if any one realizes that by his thought, speech or deed, he has created violence in the society, it is imperative that he rectifies his mistake immediately. He is supposed to publicly acknowledge his position and to clarify the causes for misunderstanding. If for any reason, he is not able to discuss and resolve immediately, every effort must be made to achieve reconciliation within a week, or a fortnight, or a quarter, or at the most within a year. This teaching of Jainism specifies a time limit to resolve a dispute, which is one year. Admission of guilt has to be accompanied by a declaration that one has no more ill will and no enmity with others. This is the back bone of mutual discussion.
Dialogue in a peaceful way has been a very successful method for resolving disputes. If this is coupled with little acts of kindness and a bit of surrender of one's position, pace of settlement quickens. This has been often repeated in history. Many countries have fought wars for a small piece of land that both countries thought belonged to them. In recent history, wisdom shown by the leaders of Qatar and Bahrain is commendable. Through mutual
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PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE