Light Of Life

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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Highness, As soon as this priest came, he spoke the truth. He said that he should be hanged. "Your order is that those who speak the truth should not be hanged". The King feil into thought. A serious complication arose. He was unable to decide what he should do. If I do not hang him, this will be an untruth; and if I hang him, I will be committing a sin because how can a truthful man be hanged ?" His problem had no solution. We are also facing a similar problem.
We are facing countless problems which can be solved only by means of the Anekantvad. If you try to solve them by means of the Ekant point of view or your own point of view they cannot be solved. This makes it evident that Dharma is essential. There is a great need of Dharma in life. You see that if Dharma disappears as an ordering force, mere anarchy appears; and there will be no principle that can bring about and maintain order and discipline. Look at our ideals. Look at the ideals of China. Think of the Roman culture. You read the ancient history of any great country. From history, you will realize what kind of point of view was provided by Dharma and how Dharma always emphasized the importance of humanity.
How was the administration during the time of Emperor Shri Ramachandra ? Think of the organisation that prevailed in the time of Shri Krishna as it is evident from such magnificent epics as the Mahabharat; and also think of the organization that prevailed earlier than that in the time of Lord Adinath as it is evident from the Jain literature. In those days, there was such an organization that anarchy was unheard of. In those days people believed that commi. tting a sin was tantamount to committing suicide. People believed that if they committed a sin, they had to taste its bitter fruits; and that they would have to face calamities; and that it would go against the ideal of humanity. Dharma would not sanction it; and religion would not permit such actions. Since people acted according to Dharma,
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