Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 43

Jaina Acāra : Siddhānta aura Swarūpa Lord Mahavira wanted every individual to reform himself. That will reform society, since it is but a congregation of people, though well-regulated. None can reform himself unless freed from the shakles of attachment and aversion. A lewd person is a blot on society. Good men alone can rejuvenate it. Jainism does not turn its face from social amelioration but without ignoring the goal of emancipation.
The Founders of Faith have been eulogised as benefactors of the world and as well-wishers of their society in "Sakrendrastava'. They think more of social well-being than other luminaries in the field of religion.
One must sacrifice one's personal interest for the good of others, but this does not mean that he must give up his spiritual endeavour. As a matter of fact there is no contradiction between the two. If a choice were to be made between one's spiritual growth and general welfare, the former must be preferred to the latter. What is desirable, however, is that one's spiritual well-being should go along with others' good. In 'Acārasūtra' Dharma has been defined as equality. Equality is piety and inequality the reverse of it. What divides society is disparity among groups. Disparity leads to revolt. Equanimity alone is its unfailing remedy. The root cause of disparity is selfishness tainted with avarice, attachment, partiality and the like. The resultant is exploitation of the weak. Pride means inhuman treatment of others. On account of free indulgence in passions, distrust grows in society leading to general discontent and frustration. Jainism lays stress on equality to remedy such siuations which recur every now and then. Deceit, hypocrisy and duplicity are to be shunned studiously.
Karl Marx attempted to establish economic parity. His was a revolutionary step but it did not succeed because it was imposed on society and was never a voluntary acceptance. No external pressure can effect morality in society. Hence Jainism stresses non-attachment and non-possoessiveness as part of the religious ideal. Devotees are expected to share everything equally. The scale is not to be tilted in favour of or against any group of people. When the ideal is mundane, the result is bound to be deleterious. There can be no valueless value. Mere riches can shower no bliss.
Corruption in all walks of life is spreading like Draupadi's mantle. The lust for worldly pleasures has resulted in acquisitiveness. Hoarding and blackmarketing are rampant. Vows from five to eight in the Jaina code of conduct are an effective cure of the prevailing ills. The principle of manysided approach to all problems can lead to reconciliation and harmonious relations among even warring groups.