Jainism and World Problems

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

Page 44

JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
than a refined sensualist's, from the standpoint of religion. They do not understand the need for the practising of Universal Love, but are fully impressed with the teaching that nature is characterized by a struggle for life and the survival of the fittest ; and, let me add, are quite prepared to wipe out the weaker nations whenever it is found convenient to do so. They have no respect for their own souls, and surely you would not expect them to have respect for any one else's soul or life in the world.
Now I must tell you how we, the Jains, tried to achieve the ideal in practical life in India. We laid down four ideals of life as follows :
1 Dharma (religion or a life of piety), 2 Artha (wealth or acquisition), 3 Kama (pleasure),
and 4 saivation or moksha. You will notice that in the West you have only two of these ideals really operating on the mind, though some talk and think of religion also ; but that is done in a way that has estranged the homage of the rationally inclined people, whose number, by the way, is very great.
Now in India, we taught our boys and girls the first duty of life to consist in dharma (religion), that is the practising of religion. Wealth is good only if acquired without violating the strict demands of religion. If it is acquired otherwise it will lead the acquirer's soul into terrible conditions after death, and also of those who knowing how it is acquired do not get rid of it, but settle down to enjoy it. Acquisition must, therefore, be made subordinate to Dharma.
And the rule with hama or pleasure is this that if your expenditure is beyond your means, or the sense of pleasure opposed to the dictates of dharma, you will get into trouble in this world as well as in the next. Pleasure must, there. fore, be subordinated to artha (acquisition) and dharma