Jain Spirit 2001 12 No 09

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

Page 37

VIKRAM GAWDE
Mr Deepchand Gardi took great risks to become one of the most generous Jain philanthrapists and leaders in India
would then become apparent. Only a life that is full of risks is considered to be memorable. Shivaji had taken many risks during his time and that was why his memory remained strong in the minds of the people.
Of course, in suggesting that taking risks should be encouraged, I do not refer to each and every type of risk. Robbers, smugglers and gamblers all lead risky lives but these are not the risky lives to be promoted. What is being advocated is positive risk taking.
Each individual lives his life following a particular path. More often than not, these paths have been predefined by society. We can consider these paths, or norms, as having been prescribed to us for our own security and welfare. For example: one is born; some months later one begins to walk; after some years one attends school, college etc.; then one has to work to earn a living; soon after that one gets married and has a family; finally, one becomes old and begins to see the end of one's life after which one is left with nothing. This sort of path seems to be the normal course of most people's lives. Society has established this way of life as a norm. It is a known quantity and most people follow it. It is therefore considered a secure way of life. Thus anyone who deviates from this normal path of life can be deemed to be taking a risk. Bhagwan Mahavir, Gautama Buddha, Shankaracharya, Chattrapathi Shivaji, Mahatma Gandhi, Doctor Hedgewar are all examples of such people. Rather than just go along with the flow they took risks. They stood up and confronted the ills of the society as opposed to taking the easier option of simply accepting the status quo. As a result, ultimately they were able to influence society to such an extent that they affected the direction in which society was heading.
The types of risks taken by these social leaders are those that we should be encouraged to take, i.e. risks which have the potential to transform society for the better. For example, if
I decide to follow the caste system then to a certain extent things are made easy for me as I am following the norms of the society. On the other hand, if I feel that in order to create a homogenous caste-less society I myself need to set an example by being party to an inter-caste marriage. This way my decision would be one which involves risk. However, if as a result of such action, society as a whole will ultimately benefit then the risk is definitely worth taking. These are the kinds of risks we should welcome in our lives.
Risk Makes Life
It is quite apparent that in order to achieve any type of social transformation or upliftment, it will be necessary to take risks. Without doing so we will not be able to achieve the results we desire.
"Risk-takers have the potential to transform society for the better."
Jain darshan also supports this proposition. When anyone speaks about the Jain viewpoint, they cannot bypass the principle of ahimsa. It is considered the foundation and soul of the Jain religion. If we want to mould our lives according to Jain principles then ahimsa is unavoidable. Similarly, anekantvada is a key aspect of the Jain path. The doctrine of anekantvada suggests a particular perspective for considering the universe of which we are a part. Anekantvada does not allow us to see the world from a single angle. On the contrary, this principle requires that we should take into account everything around us. One should plan one's life and make decisions giving full consideration to other entities and their respective points of view.
If one is to accept the philosophy of anekantvada then taking risks is inevitable. One will often be required to deviate from a path which may be secure for oneself, but which needs to be
abandoned in order to achieve a greater good, i.e. that which maximises the welfare of all. "My life is for others, I will not earn for my bread only" is the resulting attitude which gives inspiration to struggle in the world.
Risk therefore is an essential part of a meaningful life. Indeed, one could perhaps go as far as saying risk is life. Note that the positive emphasis in the preceding phrase is on risk. Yes, life itself is risky but risk is an essential part of a meaningful life and something which should be welcomed and taken on with full vigour as it has the potential to improve the state of the society. C
2
Dr. Ram Vaidya has a PhD in Jainism and is currently in the UK training members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh as a full-time volunteer.
December 2001 February 2002 Jain Spirit
33