________________
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.
1095
give rise to evil karmas, Wars and strikes would then become things of the past, and peace and prosperity would be the lot of mankind on earth. As for the individual, it has been seen that the ideal set by Religion before mankind is the only practical ideal to cherish; for what shall a man profit if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul ? None of our worldly acquisitions can possibly prevent the force of evil karmas from harmfully affecting the soul. Hence, only such thoughts and actions are permissible as actually facilitate its progress on the path of Perfection and Bliss. The doing of the proper dharma, that is, duty, or conduct enjoined by religion, is the only means of progress for the soul. In whatever stage of evolution an individual might be, the observance of the principle of dharma would, without fail, facilitate his onward progress on the path, because dharma is the only force which enables the soul to realize its own glorious nature. Dharma is also the highest form of morality, without which peace and prosperity cannot be thought of. The lives of the great Tirthamkaras furnish ample proof of the practicability of Religion, and show the heights of power and glory to which a soul, conscious of its own nature, may aspire. Every detail of Their noble lives illustrates the supremacy of Religion over materialism, and invites us to follow the path They trod, to reach the heights which They attained. The path may be steep and thorny, but it has to be trodden, if not now, then, in some future incarnation ; and each backward step, or fall from our present position, only goes to make the journey to be performed, more tedious
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
