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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision than sectarianism in his or her life, should abhor physical and mental violence and should practice compassion. It is only when an individual manifestly transcends over the power of the physical might through the power of soul. That he or she can really become fearless in life.
It is in this way that the Jain religion not only emphasises social, economic and individual duties of persons, but more than that it also emphasises mental, moral and spiritual fellowship among men in all walks of life.
Today, when man is struggling hard to protect and preserve human rights in the world, the Jain religion and philosophy can offer a lot to humanity in terms of non-violence, compassion, mutual understanding, all pervasive approach to the problems of life and such other human values.
We should unite at this crucial juncture of world history and strive ceaselessly to save humanity from extinction. It is essential that we try our best to revitalize our religious and moral principles and unite to ensure peace and harmony. Jainism preaches amity towards all beings, compassion for the miserable and detachment towards possessions.
In order to discourage violence, Bhagwan Mahavira proclaimed that the entire human race is one. At a time when communalism, hatred, violence and terrorism have become rampant in contemporary times, this preaching of Bhagwan Mahavira should be our true ideal. Indeed, it is the right time to practise them now.
The message of Jainism has even a greater relevance today. By following this path, it will be possible for us to make a meaningful use of the wonderful inventions of science and
Human Rights And Jainism technology and make them truly blissful and create a global society free from hunger and hatred - a society at peace with itself and with its environment. Thus, a heaven will descend on this earth. What more does a human being want?
The poetic composition of the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, which basically is in praise of our motherland, is symbolic of the sacred sentiments towards humanity as a whole and it eulogises human rights in all their aspects. It is only when such rights are granted to each citizen that humanity can be free from fear, agony, exploitation and repression. In the words of Rabindranath Tagore :
"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action -
Into that Heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake."
Let us hope that the new millenium will usher in an era of peace, equality and justice for all those who inhabit this planet which cries out for the restoration of its pristine purity when it came into being aeons ago.
[Lecture delivered at Parliament of the World's Religion,
Cape Town, South Africa on and Dec. 1999]
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