Jinamanjari 2002 04 No 25

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 65

Jinamanjari, Volume 25, No.1, April 2002
JAINA DOCTRINE OF AHIMSA: A SCIENCE OF HARMONY AND PEACE
Dr. Kusum Patoria, Nagpur University, India
Deep inside the abomination of racialism, communalism, religious fanaticism lies the cause -- ego and the craving for power that gets more and more distorted with satiation. It is this self-feeding multifaceted phenomenon that gathers its impulse from individual, social, religious, racial, national or other prejudices. The object or aspect of this multifaceted prejudice becomes known through senses rather than by thought and blurs the boundaries between reality and reasoning.
Misguided reactionary fanaticism sets out circumstances favorable to the growth and development of fanatics out of innocents, and it will increase many fold by unchecked propensity and readily available sophisticated weapons. It starts as a minor problem of dissatisfaction with the establishment or established norms, and when left unsolved, it becomes violent, and gives rise to terrorism. The choice then is no longer between violence and non-violence; it is either non-violence or nonexistence.
Terrorism is becoming common, because self-centered and power-hungry individuals, groups as well as nations disturb the balances between bad and good social elements leading to a consequent distortion of moral and social values. The bad elements are encouraged and protected by selfish leaders. A strong and cohesive social structure, built on the moral values of mutual co-existence and universal welfare keeps in limits bad social elements.
Terrorism cannot be overcome by suppression because, it gives an added justification and impetus. Violence breeds
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