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JANUARY, 1975
Samatva as a Directive Principle of Living
Some one may say that the Darwinian theory of evolution goes against the concept of Samatva. Darwin presented the theory of evolution of life, in which he suggested that "struggle for existence" is the basic principle of life. Apparently it is true that there is a struggle for existence in our world and nobody can deny this fact. But due to certain reasons, we cannot call this a directive principle of life. And it may be questioned: Why? My humble answer to it is that, first of all, this theory is self-contradictory, because, its basic slogan is 'live on others'; in other words, 'living by killing'. Secondly, it is opposite to the basic human nature and even animal nature to certain extent. Struggle is not our inner nature (Svabhava-lakṣaṇa) but it is only a resultant nature, it is imposed on us by some outer factors. When ever we have to struggle we struggle in compulsion, and whatsoever is done in compulsion cannot be a guiding principle of our life, because it does not follow from our inner nature. Thirdly, it goes against the judgments of our faculty of reasoning and the concept of natural law. If I think that nobody has any right to take my life, then on the ground of the same reasoning, I have no right to take another's life.
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The theory 'live on others' is against the simple rule that all living beings or human beings are potentially equal. The concept of equality and union of all living beings (atmavat sarva bhūteşu) can only give us a right directive principle of living with fellow beings. The directive principle of living is not 'live on others' but 'live with others' or 'live for others' (parasparopagraho jīvānām).
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