Jaina Literature and Philosophy a Critical Approach

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 90

Aspects of Jainology Volume VI
equanimity or tranquility. First of all, we must know the causes of these mental tensions. To Jainism, the basic human sufferings are not physical but mental. These mental sufferings or tensions are due to our attachment towards worldly objects. It is the attachment, fully responsible for them. The famous Jaina text Uttaradhyayana-sutra mentions: "The root of all sufferings : physical as well as mental, of every body including gods, is attachment which is the root cause of mental tension'. Only a detached attitude towards the objects of worldly enjoyment can free mankind from mental tension. According to Lord Mahāvira, to remain attached to sensuous objects is to remain in the whirl. Says he : "Misery is gone in the case of a man who has no delusion, while delusion is gone in the case of a man who has no desire; desire is gone in the case of a man who has no greed while greed is gone in the case of a man who has no attachment."2 The efforts, made to satisfy the human desires through material objects, may be likened to the chopping off the branches while watering the roots. He further remarks that uncountable mountains of gold and silver like Kailasa can not satisfy the desires of human beings because desires are endless like sky. Thus, the lust for and the attachment towards the objects of worldly pleasure is the sole cause of human tensions.
If mankind is to be freed from mental tensions, it is necessary to grow a detached outlook in life. Jainism believes that the lesser the attachment, the greater will be the mental peace. It is only when attachment vanishes, the human mind becomes free from mental tensions and emotional disorders and attains equanimity, the ultimate goal of all our religious practices and pursuits.
place. Doubts cause fear, fear produces the sense of insecurity which results in accumulation of weapons. This mad race for accumulation of weapons, is likely to lead to the total annihilation of human race from this planet.
Thus, the problem of survival of mankind is related to the question of disarmament. To meet this aim first of all we will have to develop mutual faith or trust and thus remove the sense of fear and insecurity, the sole cause of armament-race, and then to check the mad race for weapons. Let us think what means have been suggested by the Jainas to solve the problem of human survival and to check the mad race for weapons. For Jainas, it is the sense of insecurity w hich causes fear and vice a versa. Insecurity results in the accumulation of weapons. So it is our prime duty to develop the sence of security among fellow beings. In Sütraktänga, it is clearly mentioned that there is nothing higher than the sense of security which a human being can give to others. The virtue of fearlessness is supreme. It is two-fold (1) one should not fear from others and (2) one should not cause fear to others. A real Jaina saint is one who is free from fear and enmity. When the fear vanishes and enmity dissolves there is no need for armaments. Thus, the sense of secutity and accumulation of arm and weapons are related to each other. Though, arms and weapons are considered as means of security yet these, instead of giving security, generate fear and a sense of insecurity in the opposite party hence a mad race for accumulation of superior weapons starts. Lord Mahāvira had seen this truth centuries before that there is no end to this mad race for weapons. In Acāränga (C. 4th B.C.) he proclaimed "atthi sattham parenaparam natthi asatthar parenaparam"i.e. there are weapons superior to each other, but nothing is superior to aśastra i.e. disarmament or non-violence? It is the selfish and aggressive outlook of an individual or a society that gives birth to war and violence. They are the expressions and outcome of our sick mentality. It is through firm faith in mutual credibility and non-violence that humanity can get rid of this mad race for nuclear weapons and thus can solve the problem of its survival.
The Problem of Survival of Human Race and Disarma- ment
The second important problem, the world is facing today, is the problem of the survival of human race itself. Due to the tremendous advancement in war technology and nuclear weapons, the whole human race is standing on the verge of annihilation. Now it is not the question of survival of any one religion, culture or nation, but of the whole humanity. Today, we have guided missiles but unfortunately, unguided men. The madness, of one nation or even an individual, may lead to the destruction of the whole humanity. Because of the advancement in scientific knowledge and outlook our faculty of faith has been destroyed. When mutual faith and faith in higher values of co-operation and co-existence is destroyed, doubts take
The Problem of War and Violence
At the root of all types of wars and violences there lies the feeling of discontentment as well as the will for power and possession. According to Sūtrakrtānga, the root of violence is attachment or will for possession. A book namely "Tension that causes war" tells us that economic inequalities, insecurities and frustrations create group