Jainism and World Problems

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
death and reincarnation for the soul, and that it can escape from the influence of matter by freeing itself from desire, since through desire alone is it rendered vulnerable to the onslaught of the foe (matter). Divine Perfections are revealed in the nature of the Soul when it is rid of matter and flesh, and, therefore, it is correctly said: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
It will be now obvious that religion is the one means of removing our differences and uniting us into one bond. The only condition is that we should understand it scientifically. In the past this has not been done, except in Jainism, and, therefore, you find the Jainas to be the most peaceful and tolerant of men. For it is impossible for any one who has understood the nature of Religion to entertain any kind of hostile feeling for another man, especially when he also practises the same doctrine. Vatsalya is the quality which a right-minded believer in Jainism should possess ; and vatsalya means nothing less than the love the cow bears for her calf.
To come to the need for reforms, or new ideals, which is the subject of the present discourse, we must realize that the modern civilization is opposed to religion in many particulars; it is essentially soul-less while Religion insists on the welfare of the soul being always kept in view. Why Materialis:n has proved irresistible is because its results appear, at first sight, to be the most helpful and beneficial for man. But this is only when we forget that the world is set in a direction opposite to the everlasting Good, and that the comfort and ease of the body or the flesh do not mean anything less than utter ruination of the dearest and the best interests of the soul. Science has yet to learn that the Ancients were not all baby monkeys, and that some of them attained to a Fullness of Knowledge of which it has no conception or inkling whatsoever, in spite of its proud boasts of various kinds in the department of research. Let me add that the Ancients too could have given us a heritage of the material