Jainism

Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

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CHAPTER-7
Development Dedication
ETHICS
Introduction
Ethics is the science of conduct and deals with moral principles. The term ethics is derived from Greek word 'Ethos' and the term moral is derived from the Latin word 'mores' which means character and custom. Personal Ethics has three parts which shape the character of a person and society:
• Discipline
Discipline is negative. It aims at the control of the passions, impulses and appetites, as the gardener prunes the plants. Development is growth, enfoldment of body, mind and soul, expansion and enrichment of Personality to the utmost extent. The root of all improvement is Self-improvement. It is positive, as the gardener makes the plant manure by exposing it to sunshine and air. Dedication consists in the conservation of a disciplined and developed personality committed to the service of humanity as the tree brings forth luscious fruit in abundance. Such is the three-fold task of Ethics.
Narration
We are aware of the fact that everyone always measures the worth of every subject or object big or small only by its usefulness. Nowadays it is difficult to understand the usefulness of becoming honest, virtuous, trustworthy, and straightforward. If some of our friends from economics or business management ask, what is the use of honesty? What is the use of service and helping others? The reply may be what is the use of keeping your grandparents with you or your family and your children with you? Living with the parents is a good thing, carries the sense of culture, and has nothing to do with the usefulness. There is also a group of persons in the society who believe that the sinful action by anybody is not only condemned by the society but law also has provided punishment for the same. On the other hand no system praises the persons of the integrity and truthfulness. Therefore, the modern man who has come under the overpowering spell of consumerism is unable to distinguish between what is useful and what is good.
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