Jainism and World Problems

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

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JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
at law. And, lastly, let the government find plots of land for the unemployed and settle them thereon, providing at the same time suitable facilities for their marriage, and assisting them in building cheap homesteads. I have no doubt that if this is done in the true spirit of ahimsa very soon the evil aspect of things will be changed, and in place of desolation will appear beautiful enchanting homes where sweet little children will soon come to play. The lack of means will be replaced with peace and plenty from the produce of the soil; and the state will be saving all the enormous millions which it now spends in the shape of doles. As for the objection that marriage means the introduction of many hungry mouths in the world, it is always within the power of the parents to have as few children as they like, without offending against the moral code or the natural law. Ahimsa is the doctrine of renunciation, and renunciation of pleasureseeking at certain times is an effective check on an increasing family. Jainism does not recommend the employment of any artificial checks that seek to limit the family, but not the lust of the parents, that is to say, which, in other words, leave them free to practise unrestrained indulgence at all times.
To conclude, the jaina Doctrine is the sweetener of life in every department of human activity. Whosoever will put it into practice will enrich himself with Spiritual Goods, and will be able to build his house on a solid foundation, which will withstand the severest attacks of ill-luck. Ahimsa is the back.bone of the social order, and its disregard is attended by the gravest of disorders. The world has been living in defiance of ahimsa and Universal Love for centuries, and rot has now begun to eat into its vitals. Let men only practise the ahimsa dharma (the Religion of Universal Love) in their daily living, and it will suffice to change disease into health, ugliness into beauty, poverty into plenty, depression into prosperity, and fear into confidence and love !