Jainism and Democracy

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

Page 72

THE WAY OF INNER DEVELOPMENT
The modern man has begun to realize that humanity is suffering so much not from scarcity or ravages: of nature but from its own inner conflicts, its prides and prejudices, its favours and disfavours and its convictions. based on mere caprice. It is not the material necessities but the unbridled lust for power and domination nursed by the individual or a group that causes wars, which leave behind the seeds of mutual hatred and perpetual enmity. Time-honoured friendship and mutual confidence come to an end and neighbours begin to look at one another with suspicion. Fear takes the place of love and the entire structure of mental attitude is changed. Foremost preference is given to the preparations of deadly weapons. The man power and all resources of the nation are harnessed to the interest of war. Nazis thought that they were born to rule the world. This false notion threw the entire world in the clutches of war with its long lasting after effects. It is time that we think of not only famines and scarcities. but also of the complex that are still dividing the humanity, even when natural barriers and boundaries have lost their significance. The atomic research has made the problem still graver. On one side, there is comfortable proposed by the principle of live and let live. On the other hand, there are atom and hydrogen bombs
59 For Private & Personal Use Only