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APRIL, 1990
view-point. The State and Politics create chaos in an attempt to save the country and citizens from disorder and disruption. Marriage sanctifies apparent monogamy and not seldom becomes an effective cloak for mental and even physical polygamy. Trade and Commerce meant for natural and equal distribution of things of Necessity and Use often result in extravagant waste or stagnation of such things in the hands of the rich few, to the agonising misery of the poverty-stricken many. Even Religion, the sign and mantle of God, has cloaked Satan more than the Light-ever-lasting against whom Satan rebelled for ever. Indeed there is nothing good or desirable in the world, which to some extent or other is not locked up in the arms of its contradictory. Verily, the extremes meet literally. Life means Death. Death breeds Life. The extremely rich are extremely poor. The possessionless are the richest. The crown of thorns is ever the real, ultimate adornment. The cup of misery is the only joy-giving nectar. Purusa and Prakrti are inextricably interlocked. Brahma and Maya lie mingled together; none can say which is which. There is only one way out of the den of this Duessa. It is to recognise the reality of this den and also of the flowerful glade of real roses outside. Till the rose glade is gained, the dark den must be tolerated and regulated.
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In fine, there is no aspect or detail of practical life where the teachings of Sri Kunda Kunda will not be of immense utility. Everywhere they will lay bare the deepest truth about the question in hand, and give the most lucid and calm guidance in the handling and solution thereof. Obviously the touchstone of the eternal Truth as laid down in Samayasāra is to be applied by every man or woman according to the point in hand and in the light of surrounding circumstances of Substance, Place, Time, and the Object in view. In this sense, Jainism may be said to be the apotheosis of Relativity with which Einstein has made the Western World familiar.
Dravya, Kşetra, Kāla and Bhāva form the eternal quaternity for our practical guidance. The same question can be and even must be answered differently according to the differences in substance, place, time and circumstances. This gives a knock-out blow to rigid consistency, and conservative orthodoxy, social or political, and perhaps indicates the wonderful essential sameneess of religion and true conduct in different forms in different countries and ages.
Great is the power of Purity and Truth. The ten aspects of religionSupreme Forgiveness, Humility, Straightforwardness, Truth, Contentment, Self-control, Austerity, Renunciation, Possessionlessness and
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