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244
JAINA GAZETTE.
[Aug. & Sept.
society. For the passions of Greed, Lust, Deccit and Anger are abroad and even tlie best of. us on self-analysis is found to be very imperfect. Therefore the subordination of group morality to self-morality must be partial and conditional. The extent and conditions of the subordination must be laid down in the light of one principle. In our lives there is a Law of compulsion, of necessity. Unless self-morality, in the interests of consistency and inner conviction, is compelled to assert itself, it may bead to the demands of custom or group morality. And we must recognise a similar privilege and duty in our other brethren and sisters. Conformance to custom is in deference to society and its multifarious needs. For a little popular applause or for fear of a passing or lasting censure or ostracism we should not barter away our birtlıright of free thought and free option of our moral ideals. We should add to the morality of the community by leading clean and vigorous lives ourselves. We should try not to fall into the mire of popular error or misconduct simply because we fear to offend. people who are orthodox in their heterodosy and who are of a type to cut their nose to spite, their face. In Shakespeare's words : we should cultivate the virtue of “more within or less outside.” Omar Khayyam bas sung :
Methought a Voice within the Tavern cried,
"When all the Temple is prepared within,
Why lags the drowsy Worshipper outside ?
The community consists of us. The heart of each one of as is a Temple. The morality of the community depends upon the splendour and sanctity of this temple in each one of us. Sisters and brothers, let us go and achieve these! My humble prayers go for the success of all of us in this imperfect and difficult world.
J. L. JAINI.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
