Jain Journal 2000 04

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

Page 26

182
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXIV, No. 4 April 2000
6. Conclusion
As contemporary India is going through a slow process of development and growth, the land and its people encounter different forms of violence in different spheres of life. Cultural and religious fundamentalism, inequality and social dominance and subjugation between ethnic and linguistic groups, economic imbalance and unequal distribution of wealth, environmental degradation and so on seem to tear the social fabric of India and tarnish the life-style of its people. While different social and political forces are at work to redeem a situation such as this, religious and spiritual resources offer permanent solutions to the contemporary evils in society.
The Śramana religions like Jainism and Buddhism propose their basic ethical principles like non-injury to life and detachment in procuring and use of wealth, etc. as the only source of remedy. The simple life-style and the generous attitude prompted by their sages and spiritual masters is a sure step to meet the challenges of the contemporary world of consumerism and hoarding mentality. Ultimately it is violence done to life out of greed and other passions that causes conflicts among individuals and communities. Even more harm is done to life at the level of attitude. Violence to human and environmental life is prominently seen as life is categorized as high and low, and subsequently treating humans and others as lesser beings. It is the same narrow attitude that prompts people to violence in the use of language, that lodges people in a ghetto world, that refuses to allow changes, accommodations in one's own thinking and behaviour.
Jaina and Buddhist attitude to life prompts a dhārmic way of life which, in general, promises to preserve and to promote life with dignity and freedom. This prompting could be a happy lead to cross over a life of sorrow and danger in contemporary India, if only the call of the Śramaņas could be meaningfully heard.