Jainism Abroad

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

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as you know, Karl Marx made this remark concerning religions generally. And I suppose he had a point of conventional, conviction in his place on the precept of obedience. Now, to in-doctrinate a child to be an obedient Tax-payer, and generally speaking, that's the way it should be on the other side, the precept of obedience can be carried so far as to stifle initiative, to stifle any kind of original thought. On the other side, they are afraid that may be some lemenrs of Hindustan are alarming, say the obedience worship Karma, the whole concept of Karma is of obedience. But let us see some of your remarks by concerning my earlier saying.
Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya: I am happy in sharing your expression regarding your earlier remarks, "starvation" is not actually preached in Jainism, What is preached is "Self-realization", "self-seeking". In the course of self-realization, if you have to balance your diet, it is a MUST. Balancing your diet has a scientific outlook. Jainism, most scientifically says that one has to take no more than he requires, for keeping body and mind in tune. He should not starve, neither should he over-eat, so starvation is not preached on individual level but social level: Whenever there has been starvation in History and now also Jains have helped a lot - they opened their stores for the starving public. But at present, the point of view there is about diet, which is either too much or too less. Jainism stands in-between. There should be middle; balanced point of view-one should not have more or less than is required. Now, about the "Opium of the People", religious intoxication, which Karl Marx stands in the same line as Mahavira, is asking from the point of view to give up voluntarily your possessions. Marx asks for it in another way, I don't want to say that Mahavira is more right and Marx less right. Both have their own point of views. Mahavira preached that you should not accumulate more than your requirements. You have to voluntarily give up for the society. This is the 5th Mahavrata of Jainism. One should give back to the society all that exceeds one's requirements. Here, the point of "Starvation" also is being solved when a person returns to the society. One, who does not, is a sinner, no doubt, but what the religion preaches is "ONE HAS TO RETURN TO THE SOCIETY MORE THAN WHAT HE GETS".
Dr. John Monelesco: I wonder how far my listening public has understood some of your principles and how much they would seek clarification on various aspects, we discussed tonight, I would certainly like to have some of our remarks and observations on this peep show.
(In between Radio Announcement - Dr. John Monelesco inviting
Questions from this Radio Show "Audience") First a story: I once visited a Jain temple at Agra - It is a beautiful temple. When we, my wife and I entered, we saw there in the courtyard about 20-25 young men utterly in the nude. They didn't look at us and went about their business. I
talked to a Monk or Priest. He told me their story. He said "Once a year they bring the dancing girls in and they have to show such self-control. If not, they will not be accepted in the order. And that impressed me very much. These guys learn the lesson of self-control for one year and suddenly get thrust in the vicinity of some beautiful dancing girls. That must be the pinnacle of self-control. He assured me that it happens very rarely that somebody doesn't pass the test. If there is such self-control that even our biological functions have been suppressed, I can see there is a way of reaching Dharma and higher consciousness. If they are suppressing their sex instinct they must be suppressing their food instinct - So probably they eat very little and I do know it is a very strict religion:
Dr. T. J. Salagia: Ya, a very strict religion: Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya: May I add one point here, sir? I do agree with you there are some Monks who practice thus, but to them, it is not "SUPPRESSION", but "SUBLIMATION"! It is the process of elevation that brings about suppression - not forceful suppression, but one that occurs with self-realization. It naturally goes in course of self-realization:
Dr. John Monelesco: If a Monk aged 40, 50, and 60 who practiced Jainism for 20, 30, and 40 years is placed in that position and he succeeds in that lesson. I would not think of it. I would not have noticed it, because even our Monks in Christian or Catholic monasteries are supposed to be immune to temptation, but some of them have been practicing that for years and years; yet I have seen young Monks just admitted a year before, having to pass the test. That must be pretty difficult.
Dr. T. J. Salagia: If you have self-control, you can control everything, it can be done in pOratice, it is discipline.