Jain Journal 1976 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 41

78
Again, Jainism lays stress on aparigraha that is renunciation of worldly belongings or non-accumulation of things. Now there are several misnomers about the meaning of this word. Aparigraha does not mean that there should be no worldly belongings-it is immaterial if there are things or not, what is important is that man is above his belongingsthe belongings cannot chain him down. I'll illustrate this with a story. Once a king went hunting into a dense forest. There he saw a Sanyasi under a tree deep in meditation, practising severe penance. The king was very much impressed by him and requested the ascetic to accompany him to the capital. The ascetic readily agreed, to the slight disappointment of the king. Once in the royal palace, the ascetic rapidly settled in the royal way of living, eating rich food and leading a luxurious existence. Once while they were strolling in the garden, the king remarked, 'O Sanyasi, what is the difference between you and me? You eat the same food, wear the same clothes.' The Sanyasi said, 'Come, I'll explain the difference.' They started walking towards the border of the kingdom. After some time, the king said, 'Let's stop.' The Sanyasi said, 'Keep walking.' After going a couple of miles further, the king said, 'Let's go back; we are near the frontier of my kingdom.' The Sanyasi said, 'Now, do you realise the difference? I can leave these luxuries any time I like, but you cannot.' and saying this he kept on walking despite all the entreaties of the king to stay back.
JAIN JOURNAL
Many people complain that Jainism is unsuited to today's world because it is the path of asceticism and lays undue stress on tyāga or sacrifice. It is true that Jainism emphasises the virtues of sacrifice or selfdenial but it must be clearly understood that any unworthy sacrifice cannot lead to happiness. One does not become happy by renouncing worldly things-on the other hand one renounces them because he is happy and does not need those things. If anyone misses those things or talks about them or cannot get over the fact that he has renounced them, he can never be happy. If a man has renounced certain things, it is nothing to be proud of, or to exult about or to gloat over. Then it ceases to be tyāga-it becomes something of a punishment. Another thing-only that man can sacrifice something who has it, who has enjoyed it. There is no merit in a teetotaller giving up drinking or a pauper abjuring riches.
One aspect of Jainism which merits recognition and implementation is Mahavira's call of "Live and Let Live". All around us we hear of peaceful co-existence. International conferences are held where speaker after speaker harps on this theme. It may be co-existence of countries, of conflicting ideologies or of economic doctrines. What is important is that I must recognise the others' right to co-exist alongside. This is what