Mahavira Life and Philosophy

Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 11

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their minds are not in conformity with their pious aspirations. George Bernard Shaw's remarks are very apt and poignant, "Only on paper has humanity achieved glory, beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue and abiding love" (Prison Days- V. Lakshmi Pandit, P. 15).
Perhaps such cunning and cruel politicians are trying to seek inspiration and guidance from Lady Macbeth, who had advised her husband:
Look like an innocent flower But be the serpent under it. (Macbeth, Act I, Scene V)
This serpentine and crooked attitude and the habit of shedding crocodile tears can never solve the horrible and tormenting problems of the present world. Late Secretary General of United Nations U. Thant had once observed, "Progress has been very limited in disarmament and there was the frightening aspect of a new arms-race in the field of nuclear weapons involving anti-missile defence systems and missileswith multiple war-heads." He had, therefore, suggested 'morotorium on new weapons'. It is surprising and distressing to note that the world spends 200,000 million Dollars on military equipments. According to a United Nations Committee report "it costs an estimated 200,000 million dollars. (Rs 146, 000 crores) a year to feed and arm the 23 million: people in the world's armed forces." (Hitavada, July 3, 1972). It is a matter of grave anxiety that the atmosphere of international firmament is most puzzling and horrifying. Mahatma Gandhi in his book 'All Men Are Brothers' had sounded a note of warning to all nations that unless now the world practises non-violence it will spell suicide for mankind.
Under these turbulent circumstances Tirthankara Mahavira's teachings give a rational and sublime message which if followed with sincerity shall certainly change the climate of the world. Unfortunately our war-mongers and heartless politi