Jain Journal 2003 10

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

Page 39

SMT. LATA BOTHRA : ETHICAL UTILITARIANISM IN THE LIGHT
99
nations, but also the general situation of law and order was dragged into chaos and in the 1938 fallout thousands of companies had to close down for good. Colonists exploited people in the name of Socialism against the coded law. When the League of Nations was unable to take control of this situation, they had to bow down to dubious agreements, and Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of England, at that time also supported the Munich agreement and thus paved the way of the 2nd World War. The manipulation of arms race created by mankind, has drained the coffers of public money. Only one doctrine could have evaded from this periphery. That is the doctrine of Aparigraha. Mahāvīra has told that the root cause of all sorrows lies in the incessant want for lust, power and accumulation. The president of America, Bill Clinton, went through the turmoil of self decadence when his affairs were reflected in front of everybody. But being the head of the state he apologised in front of his countrymen for what he had done. Thuswise, the universal theme of Jaina revival towards ethics, worked within him and likewise we are thankful to him. Self-restraint is needed to check this unrest of mind. The soul is aggraded and degraded by the deed. By self-retraint this energy can be aggraded within the soul. The degradation of the energy causes disdainment to the soul. The desecrated sins which are caused by lust and desire too, degrade the very standard of the soul. Today it is due to this moral degradation incurable diseases like AIDS have sprung up. Jainism in its lineage has maintained the policy of self-restraint. The fourth Anuvrata of Jainism says---
cothe anuvvayammi iccam paradaraga-mana-viraiyo āyariyamappasatthe, ittha pamāyappa-saṁgeņam/ apariggahiyā ittara ananga-vivāha-tivva-anurāge cauttha-vayassa-ivāre padikkame desiam savvam/
To be satisfied with one's own wife and maintaining a healthy relationship regarding physical and mental traits—has been mainly emphasised by the fourth Anuvrata.
The doctrine of non-violence reached its zenith during Mahāvīra's time. His teachings basically revolved round the theory of Ahimsā or non-violence. He said -- "Nobody in this world wants to die, hence don't jeopardise any living entity by dint of your evil and desecrated deeds. Don't be a cause to anybody's excruciating pain. It is your own identity which is being put into danger. Never cognite yourself in such evil deeds, because even negative ways of