Jainism and Democracy

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: I A S S Jain Conference New Delhi

Page 61

48
JAINISM AND DEMOCRACY
nation we have good response. Thousands and thousands sacrificed their lives for the war known as crusade, which in reality, went against the spirit of Christianity. Muslims and Hindus are not behind in this type of blood-stained history. But, appeal for universal welfare does not prove so inspiring.
If we try to find out the reason behind it, we shall. realise that the national ethics provides enough scope for the satisfaction of one's baser instincts. Sometimes, an unbridled expression of these very instincts, is eulozized as the virtue of high order. Anger and thirst for blood are praised as bravery, conceit and vanity as national pride. Crokedness and fraud as diplomacy and greed for domination as ambition. They are regarded as essential parts of service to the nation or the religion. Plunders and cruelties perpetuated on the enemy are thought as a part of the crusade. On the other hand the Universal ethics cannot provide cheap rewards of this type. Here, one has to subdue his baser instincts and it requires a long period of restraint, continence and arduous practices. The aspirant has to check external longings and conquer the forceful urge of habits and predispositions.
Moreover, national ethics is a type of intoxication. It appeals to the sentiment induces one for prompt action. The Universal ethics on the other hand appeals to reasoning which is extremely useful to find out a theory, but lacks in force for practical purposes. And this places a real problem before us. Hinduism has found out a solution in neglecting neither of the two.