Jain Journal 2007 04

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

Page 31

200
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XLI, NO.4 APRIL 2007
and vice versa. In my humble opinion, hostilities and wars are the expressions and outcomes of sick mentality. It is the aggressive and selfish outlook of an individual and society that gives birth to confrontations among individual, individual and society as well as different social or religious groups and nations. At the root of all types of confrontations and wars, which disturb outer peace, there lies the felling of discontentment as well as will for power, possession and hoarding. Thus social disturbances, conflict and confrontations are only symptoms of our mental tensions or sick mentality, which can only be restored through the religious practices.
It fact, the peace of society depends on mental make-up of its members, but it is also true that our attitude towards life and behaviour pattern is shaped by our religious environment and training. The behavioural pattern and mentality of the members of non-violent sociey will surly be different from that of a violent society. While on the one
de social norins, ideals and conditions affect the mental make-up and behavioural pattern of the individual, on the other side, there are also individuals of spiritual hold who shape the social norms, ideals and conditions.
Though, it is correct that in many cases disturbed social conditions and environmental factors inay be responsible for vitiating our mental peace, they cannot disturb the persons'strong spirituality. According to Jainism, spiritually developed soul remains unaffected at his mental level by external factors. But, on the other hand, disturbed mental state of one necessarily affects our social peace. The inner peace of the soul is the cause and that of the society is the effect. Now it is the duty of the religious leaders, if they want to establish peace and harmany in the world, they should preach the spiritual and moral values, instead of only outer rituals
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