Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1913 Book 09

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 295

Divine Discontent.
423
remains or survives after death, thus giving rise to rank growth of materialism which dismisses all enquiries of this nature with the single explanation that all vital processes, thinking faculties and phenomena of life are the direct out. come of the combination of matter in different degrees of density and fineness in certain proportion and they are transmitted in a plasmic state by the operations of the Laws of Heridity. Love for and attachment to physical comforts urge them to evolve such fatal theories in order to suit their established habits of life. But human nature is the same the world over. Truth asserts itself and disturbs their pet snug beliefs even when least thought about. Now a days, the pioneers of Materialism and leaders of Western thought, through the contact with the East, have begun to see the utter fallacy of the theory that ascribes life to the effect of a material cause. Cause can never change its inherent property howso. ever extended into effect. They now admit, as all sane men would do, that the property of matter is Inertia. But they would have this inherent property of matter-inertia turn into energy, life, soul or what you please to call it when combin. ed in given proportion. The two-inertia and enegy have nothing in common. They are diametrically opposed as regards their nature or property. How could then both be made traceable to a single cause--the matter? Thus human nature is slowing breaking through the mist of delusion into the light of reason even in soils where any truth which militates against physical delectations and “ eat, drink and be merry notions " has least chance of striking roots
Thus in every clime and country, under all circumstances and environements, the irresistible conclusion is the inevitableness of Death. From time immemorial some men of light have ever kept trying to avert death and decay and to attain this end they have directed their talents and energy to find out a common panacea to cure this fleshy frame of disease and death. But frustrated in every attempt to defy death they had at-last to submit to this inoxorable decree of fate and were compelled into the acceptance of the stern fact--the inevitableness of death.