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Aparigraha which requires an indivi- dual to impose voluntary restrictions on the limits on one's own earnings is based both on material and spiritual considerations. Concentration of wealth in a few hands hads to revolution against the rich; in fact it is a negation of samatavada or the doctrine of equality which religious teachers, socialists and jurists have emphaised as offering the best solution for social harmony and peace. In this conection, Bhagavan Mahavira has preached the twofold path for achievement of this objective.
The principle of Ahimsa which in its posi-" tive aspect stands for universal love and compassion naturally envisages a society in which all live in peace and comfort. It was Samantabhadra Acharya who in his book Yuktyanusasana said that the kind life which Bhagavan Mahavira wanted for all living beings was Sarvodaya-tirtha, that is, a holy message for universal peace and prosperity with mutual tolerance.
Having given to the humanity the secrets purposeful living with compassion, truthfulness, honesty, celibacy and voluntary limitations on earnings and and accumylation, Bhagavan Mahavira preached the doctrine of Syadvada so that the followers of Jainism could avoid conflicts due to dogmatism and intolerance. Syadvada endeavoured to abolish metaphysical fanaticism and rejected blind ritualism.
The first is that we should always remember that the grace of living consists in mutual help (parasparopagraho Jivanam). If we have to follow this advice in practice, we must help each other and that would not be possible if we live a selfish life. Einstine also said : "Man is here for the sake of other men". Selfscrifice needs both self-restraint and selfdetachment It is our greed and our love for greater comforts than what are needed for a healthy mind and body that are responsible for the instinct of accumulation. Today, the gulf between the rich and poor has become so wide that there is rivalry between the capitalist and communist nations. That is not happy either for those countries or for the whole world in general. The doctrine of peaceful coexistence needs mutual adjustment by equitable distribution of food, clothing and shelter.
With this ethical back-ground, if properly utilized for personal enlightenment and purification, then the path of liberation would be free from material thorns. Right Perception, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct together constitute the path of liberation. While some faiths have emphasised on devotion, others on Knowledge or Jnana and still others on Karma or conduct, Jainism considers that all the three in unison and harmony are essential for attainment of liberation. Faith without knowledge and knowledge without faith can only amount to misconceptions; conduct without the other two will be only an aimless march in the wilderness of worldly existence. All the three jewels together can form a safe
The other path is the creation of a society based on equality and tolerance.
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