Jainism the Creed for All Times

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 98

incidences of alcoholism and drug addiction amongst the populace of so-called developed nations tell a different story. All the scientific and technological advancement has resulted in loss of peace of mind that was our very strength in the primeval existence. Rather than making us more humane such advancement has made us more and more beastly. Even as beasts we had our natural levels of satisfaction, which are sorely lacking in this age of grabbing more and more irrespective of requirements. The greed is the operative word instead of need and it is taking its toll.
The science and technology has made the world a smaller place with greater distances between hearts. From peaceful, loving and co-operative human beings we have become warring, hating and hostile beings. Even our animal instincts are gone. Rather than having a sublimating influence on our nature it has made us more racy and self-centred. The weapons that are considered as the means of security have, actually, become the sources of fear and insecurity. They have only resulted in armsrace and resultant increased threat. Our undue reliance on power of science and technology rather than the power of human heart and healing touch has made us more dangerous than the dragons of the days of yore.
Who is responsible for all this danger lurking at our doorsteps? The science and technology that was supposed to serve the humanity has become its master. Does the fault lie with science or with our thinking? 'Nothing is good or bad, only thinking makes it so' is an age-old adage, which is as relevant today as it was aeons ago. Science is neither good nor bad but its good and bad use makes it good or bad.
What is the way out of this morass? We have to revert back to our non-violence as it is the only glimmer of hope in the otherwise dismal scenario.
70: JAINISM: THE CREED FOR ALL TIMES