Jain Digest 1994 06 Special Issue

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

Page 24

Guruji's message to the GLOBAL FORUM OF
SPIRITUAL AND PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS ON HUMAN SURVIVAL AT Oxford, UK, April 11-15, 1988
Brothers and sisters in peace and nonviolence: Let me begin by paying tribute to this very special gathering in this great city of learning - Oxford. Oxford has always been highly esteemed in the world of learning, not only in Britain but all over the world. The institutions of learning here have educated young people who were destined to be leaders in their countries, statesmen, Prime Ministers, Presidents and Kings. We all are honored to be in this great city which has given birth to many ideas and concepts to keep the finest human values and human spirit alive and free in the world. Today, this temple of learning is host to the world leaders in both the spiritual and parliamentary areas of human endeavor who, hopefully, will discover methods for attaining global peace. As we say in India, it is an auspicious conjunction of planets. In this case they are symbolically the planets of learning and understanding. This conjunction can bring peace, non violence, love and hope for the planet earth. The Oxford spirit of knowledge and learning has been a great tradition in Britain. Today, I hope we shall give birth to a NEW OXFORD SPIRIT of compassion, understanding, tolerance, non-violence, love and abiding peace. The symbol of the trinity is part of many of the world's religions. Let us introduce a new symbolic trinity of nonviolence, love and freedom. These are the keys to the survival of humanity and a peaceful future for mankind. As we meet here today, the world is caught in a crucial trial of strength between the forces of humanity and inhumanity; the forces of love and hatred; of understanding and prejudice; of generosity and greed and above all between the human spirit, created by God, and nuclear and conventional weapons, created by man. Let us all reaffirm our faith and resolve to carry on the global crusade for assertion and reestablishment of the forces of positivism. There is a spark of goodness in the heart of even the most violent person. If we can touch that spark, we can change his heart. If we can bring about a change of hearts, we can change the world.
I am not merely presenting a theory. I have practiced what I am proposing. Very recently, in India, I have witnessed change in some of the most difficult and critical human situations. I walked among the so called terrorists and extremists in Punjab which has been so much in the news in India and the world because of senseless killings and terror. I walked with love and without fear. I walked with compassion and an honest desire to get into the hearts of those whom most people feared and despised. I thought to myself, if Christ could walk unarmed among those who had the brute force of power and weaponry with them; if Prophet Mohammad could face with love and compassion the misguided weapon wielding warriors; if Buddha could forsake a kingdom of power for a kingdom of love and compassion and face violence with non-violence; if the gurus of the Sikhs stood up against forces of injustice and state power with their faith in love and oneness of all humanity; if Lord Mahavira could grant mankind freedom from all pain and suffering through love and nonviolence; if Gandhi could face a mighty state power with love and nonviolence and if great church leaders like Bishop Tutu can face bullets and brute force with gospel and faith alone; why couldn't I, a simple Jain practitioner of faith and nonviolence, face my brothers who had a misguided belief in gun and bullet as a greater force than spirituality and God. I walked among them. I patiently heard them. I tried to understand them. God was with me and my faith in love and nonviolence. Believe me, faith worked where angry words had failed. Nonviolence worked where violence and counterviolence had failed for years. In light of my experience and of the recent developments in Punjab, I have full faith that ultimately peace shall prevail. There is bound to be a change of hearts and brothers shall again live as brothers. On this occasion I would like to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you. When my peace mission in Punjab bore some results it restored so much confidence in other parts of the country that I was asked by people in other states of India, namely Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to come and help them counter the climate of violence, mistrust and conflict. Despite imperfect health, I have pledged my life to work as a peacemaker. I walked among them and was heartened to see the beginning of change. Those who were ridden with conflicts about religious buildings as the famous mosque/temple controversy in one part of the country began to ask themselves: if this Jain monk can help the Hindus and
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June 1994
Jain Digest
Jain Education Intemational 2010_02