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APRIL, 1974
From the Jaina ethics I will mention only two great problems, which are solved in Jainism with the utmost perfection. The first of them is the problem of a happy co-existence of all beings in the world, a problem on which many ethical problems had wrecked or at least got a heavy leakage. Its solution in Jainism is a very simple one, but the only perfect one, viz., in the commandment of ahimsa or non-injury, which is not only in theory but moreover in practice stricter and more resolute, than, e.g., the similar commandment in the Christian religion. And the other problem which is dealt with an equal simplicity and perfection is the problem of sexual chastity. This is not only an ethical but moreover a biological and social problem of very wide bearing. I mention only the efforts of the great worker in the field of national economy, Malthus13, to solve this problem after he had discovered the dangers of overcrowding the world by increasing population, whilst he proved by statistics that the human race is increasing in geometrical progression, the resources, however, only in an arithmetical progression. I do not say that he was right in every respect, but I rather point to the fact; that the problem really exists in Europe too, and that its solution has been already attempted not only by religious reformers, but moreover by the scientists too. The Jaina solution of the problem is quite plain, removing the very root of the evil. It is that, what you call brahmacarya. I cannot go in details on this subject, but I advise every one, who has any interest on this subject to read or moreover to study the respective part of Adhyatma-Tattvaloka by Muni Nyayavijaya, pp. 372-396. I must emphasize only that the problem is in Jainism solved from quite a different point of view, than, e.g., in the Christian religion, where we may search for the biological substratum in vain.
I think there is no need to go into further details, the subject being now quite clear. But still the conclusion must be drawn from this exposition of facts.
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I have already said, that the Jaina religion is the limit of religion in general, and at the same time the limit of Aryan religion in particular. It follows from the fact that the Jaina religion is well balanced in respect of the particular religious elements, that it is built up anthropocentrically, and that the intellectual element is not pushed aside in it, but rather developed as far as possible without injuring the essential of a religion. This is specially a great advantage over the Christian religion, which
13
Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) the great political economist of England, who promulgated the above mentioned ideas in his most important book, viz., An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798).
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