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love is based on the concept of equality of all beings and firm faith in the doctrine that by nature living beings are made for each other. This external or social peace depends on the mental peace of individuals because our external behaviour is only an expression of our inner will and attitude towards life. Thus, the various aspects of peace are not mutually exclusive but inclusive. The peace of society or environmental peace is disturbed, when the inner peace of the individual is disturbed and vice-versa. In my humble opinion hostilities and wars are the expressions and outcomes of sick mentality. It is the aggressive and selfish outlook of an individual and society that gives birth to confrontations among individual, individual and society as well as different social or religious groups and nations. At the root of all types of confrontations and wars, which disturb outer peace there lies the feeling of discontentment as well as will for power, possession and hoarding. Thus social disturbances, conflict and confrontations are only symptoms of our mental tensions or sick mentality, which can only be restored through the religious practices.
It fact, the peace of society depends on mental make-up of its members, but it is also true that our attitude towards life and behavioral pattern is shaped by our religious environment and training. The behavioral pattern and mentality of the members of non-violent society will surely be different from that of a violent society. Social norms, ideals and conditions affect the mental make-up and behavioral pattern of the individual. There are also individuals of spiritual hold who shape the social norms, ideals and conditions.
· Thoughitis correct that in many cases disturbed social conditions and environmental factors may be responsible for vitiating our mental peace, yet they cannot disturb the persons with strong will-power and endowed with spirituality. According to Jainism, spiritually developed soul remains unaffected at their mental level by external factors. But on the other hand soul with disturbed mental state necessarily affects our social peace. The inner peace of the soul is the cause and that of the society is the effect. Now it is the duty of the religious leaders, if they want to establish peace and harmony in the world, they should preach the spiritual and moral values, instead of only outer rituals.
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