Jain Spirit 1999 10 No 02

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 15

FEATURE
EXPERIENCE
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THE LIGHT
WITHIN
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Dr. L. M. Singhvid bem ho spole
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The selfless striving for perfection is the hallmark of a Jain, and in this interview, Dr. Singhvi illuminates this path in all its dimensions.
he central of Jainism is the same for people
Tof all ages, castes and creed. It is a universal message
stating that all life is interdependent. This translates into a way of life, which is based on ahimsa - non-violence, compassion. It is an ethical view of life, which is at once pragmatic and idealistic. It is important for us to remember that many ideas, which appear to us to be new, are ideas which were at the core of the Jain tradition for thousands of years. For example, we cannot merely say that we will respect the environment because there is more pollution nowadays than before. We have to take a holistic and integrated look at environment as a philosophy of life. Jainism is deeply rooted in a scientific and holistic view of life. It is deeply rooted in an approach to life which protects and preserves and is able to help us to have a reasonable balance between human needs, human consumption and human relationships. The central point is that we have to exercise a measure of restraint in our lives - saiyam. This principle is common to the entire mainstream traditions of India. That restraint is power: it enables you to rise to sublime heights, it enables one to experience the spiritual glow within oneself.
Jainism is a very scientific philosophy of life. For example, we use the word atomic and nuclear as if they were invented only in the twentieth century and are weapons of destruction. The very word atom and nuclear have been used in the Jain tradition for thousands of years. Anuvrat for instance is the atomic nuclear vow of the individual to follow a certain code of conduct. The nuclear power of the Jain tradition is based on the conciseness of each individual contributing to the best preservation of the world, to the best relationship amongst all living beings. This is not a view centred on the welfare of humankind but all living beings. We are talking today of biodiversity because until now we haven't thought of all other species and their life needs. 14 Jain Spirit.
October
December 1999
321012 MA
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Dr. Singhvi addressing Jains in the UK
Jainism has thought about this all through its history. It is the scientific outlook of the Jains which distinguishes it from many of the traditions of philosophy.
Many young people feel that Jainism is a meaningless ritualistic tradition. However, rituals are nothing more than an affirmation of a principle. They are not the principle themselves. Modern man must get to the root of the religious tradition. Those roots are found in reverence for life, in a sensibility and consideration for all forms of life. Jainism also prescribes a practical code of conduct for everyone, which is in fact a code of conduct for good citizenship of the world.
I think it is a central misconception of the Jain tradition and teachings to say that it is concerned only about the salvation of the individual in a selfish manner. Philosophically, one has to understand that each individual is a repository of a spiritual consciousness and we cannot have a regimentation of that individual consciousness. What we have is the principle of reciprocity. 'Paraparopagraho jivanam' is not selfishness but is an enlightened and a caring approach to the world. It is based on a strong consideration of others. Lord Mahavira's teaching was that