Jain Journal 2007 04

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

Page 30

Sagarmal Jain The Role of Religion In Human Unity And World Peach
Now we turn to the external peace. While the inner peace is the peace of our self, extenal peace is of society. We can also define it as environmental peace. It is the state of cessation of wars and hostilities, among individuals, individuals and society, different social groups and nations on earth. So far as this outer peace or the peace of the society is concerned, it can also be defined in both ways negatively as well as positively. Defined negatively it is the state of cessation of wars and hostilities, positively it is the state of harmonious living of individuals as well as societies and nations. It is the state of social cooperation and co-existance. But we must be aware of the fact that the real external peace is nore than non-war. It is a vital peace. It is the state, free from mutual doubts and fears. So far as the doubts and apprehensions against each other exist, in spite of the absence of actual war, really, it is not the state of peace. Because where there is fear, the war exists. In modern world we term it as cold war. War is war, whether it is cold or actual, it disturbs the peace of society. Real external peace is only possible, when our hearts are free from doubts and fear and each and every individual has firm faith not only in the dictum 'Live and Let live', but 'Live for others'.
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According to Umāsvāti, “By nature living beings are made for each other (parasparopagraho jīvānām)". So long as our heart are full of doubts and fear and we do not have full control on our selfish animal instincts as well as firm belief in mutual co-operation and coexistence, real social peace on earth will not be possible.
Real peace dawns only if our hearts are full of universal love, which was preached by all the religious saints of the world. This universal love in based on the concept of equality of all beings and firm faith in the doctrine that by nature living beings are made for each other. We must also be aware of the fact this external or social peace depends on the mental peace of individuals, since, our external behaviour is only an expression of our inner will and attitude towards life. Thus, the various aspects of peace are not mutually exclusive, but inclusive. The peace of society or in other words, the environmental peace is disturbed, when the inner peace of the individual is disturbed