Jain Oceans Drop

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 15

ISSUES FACED BY HUMANITY:
227
LE
(SPEECH PRESENTED AT NEW YORK, 'PANTA' INT. CONF. VHP)
BY PROF. PRATAPKUMAR TOLIYA, BANGALORE, INDIA
Birthplace of VIOLENCE is EGO- whether Individual or Collective. This self-centeredness of Ego does not allow one to be open and broad-minded enough to see, consider and accept other side of the aspect, the opposite point of view and the TRUTH in it.
That's why while going deep into the study and analysis of Violence, the Ancient, original and independent Philosophy of Jainism in the evolvement of Indian spiritual progress, has seen and stressed the utmost importance of "SYADAWADA" or "ANEKANTAWADA" for getting rid of VIOLENCE of all kinds. The Great Modern Gandhian Thinker & Interpreter of BHAGAVAD GEETA, Acharya Vinoba Bhave has given glaring tribute to Jain Philosophy for its unique contribution of "SYADAWADA"- the understanding and accepting of others' points of view in the fulfillment and achievement of AHIMSA- "NONVIOLENCE".
But one's Ego does not allow the openness and flexibility of seeing the truth in relativity and in its all sided integrated total form. And hence the outcome, gradual outcome, of Ego - whether Individual or Collective will be nothing but violence and wars.
Hence in my humble opinion EGO is the greatest hurdle in World Peace and solution of the problems of Mankind. Several learned speakers and studious thinkers will have their own expressions and revelations about the problems facing the humanity. While mine is an humble simple exposition and vision. A vision with reason-internal & external - both having two sides of the same TRUTH. As such, is not the manifestation of EGO the foremost problem facing the Humanity-resulting in Violence, wars and weapons from simple one to the destroyer Nuclears?
Ego is one or several human beings - either in Individual or National form has its far-reaching impacts in the world nearby and far. So it will be quite clear to accept that EGO is the nerve centre of all the problems facing the mankind in first instance.
Subtle are the ways and difficult are the expressions of EGO, which remains hidden under the masks of various ideologies which think themselves to be superb superior or supreme and others to be wrong or discardable. They can't see or tolerate the co-existence of other side's ideology.
Inspite of an individual's or nation's Ego, one neither realizes the same nor has the courage, honesty or sincerity to rise above one's narrow "individual" or so called "patriotic, national" world in the interest of the whole humanity to accept the reality and integrated totality. This sort of Integrated point