________________
Metaphysics, Ethics and Spiritual Development
177
company of his fellow-men. His career is a life of mutual assistance and cooperation. Industry, labour, service and sacrifice of innumerable living beings are there behind the sustenance and growth of an individual. Thus every individual is indebted to the universal society of all beings. So he should not think of his own welfare alone. He should think of the welfare of all beings. He should always see to it that no activity of his obstructs the progress or welfare of others, nor does it harm or injure others. His heart should be full of pure universal brotherhood. If he believes that he is quite independent of and aloof from the society and behaves in accordance with this belief, then he is morally and intellectually bankrupt because he does not recognise his obviously evident indebtedness to the society. He should understand that he is simply a member, a unit of the society and hence there cannot be his own welfare which is opposed to the social welfare. So in his heart there should be flowing the unbounded perennial fount of the wholesome feeling of social welfare.
Religion can never be separated from day-to-day living. It should permeate one's day-to-day living and one's dealings with others. If it is separated from one's day-to-day living and practical conduct, then it ceases to be religion and turns into the subject-matter of senseless idle talk. Fixing the attention on the definitive standpoint (that is, ultimate ideal) to practise righteous conduct which is not pernicious to it but conducive to it is really the practice of religion. Where there is neglect of morality, rectitude and justice in dealings with others, there is no firm stand of religion. Universal brotherhood is the light of non-violence and hence the heart of religion. The supreme beauty of living manifests itself in the active universal brotherhood.
The Straight and Simple Path
The world is afflicted with uncountable miseries. These miseries are the results of wrongs committed by man. And man commits wrong by not following the path of duty, righteousness and religion. Consequently, he becomes miserable. The philosopher saints have shown the path of duty and religion by expounding and teaching restraint (yama) and culture (niyama). Restraint consists in abstinence from injury to life, from falsehood, theft, incontinence and avarice. And culture consists in the cultivation of positive virtues like forbearance, humility, contentedness, etc. Treading on this path of religion and righteousness one attains welfare, peace and happiness. The purpose of practising vows is to make one's
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
