Jainism and World Problems

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

Page 73

JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
In Ethics, the greatest stress is laid by Jainism on the principle of ahimsa which the great Saintly Gandhi has employed of late in developing what he calls soul force. Ahimsa is really the characteristic feature of Jainism. It means : hurt no one in any way, even in thought. The Jaina saint actually blesses if any one causes him harm; he will not resent if he is abused or slapped on the cheek. The advanced layınan will give away his coat if any one claim it at law, and even some thing over and above it, if need be for its giving. The novitiate, of course, will defend himself if unjustly attacked ; because he has not made sufficient progress to be able to "sell off all and give it a way in charity"; but he does not remain stagnant, and hopes one day to attain to sainthood.
The effect of the adoption of the vow of ahimsa by the world will be the end of unholy rivalries, of the grabbing of other peoples' lands, of unrighteous wars, of mammon worship which itself is the parent of a thousand ills, and of all forms of racial and religious prejudices The whole world will be benefited. Even the animals will be protected and loved. Cruel sports, hunting, shooting, fishing and the like, will be abandoned ; and people will realize the folly and heartlessness of fashions which can only be gratified by the slaughter of animal life-for furs and plumes. To day our statesmen have to rely upon treaties to secure even a temporary peace, and we all know the values of treaties and of the signatures which are deemed to authenticate them, The last great war clearly demonstrated how much binding force resided in such documents. The Jaina Culture changes the hearts of men ; and it does so on a rational basis, so that the individual himself becomes enthusiastic in being peaceful and good. Where the force of the moral law is made to abide in the will of a super-human agency, or where the logic of the commandment is obscure and vague, it is impossible to enlist individual enthusiasm in the service of