________________ The Philosophy of Mahavira 261 . Oo one war stopped another war ? Material world does not and cannot bring happiness. It did not happen in the past and it will not happen in future. People have realised now that spiritual and ethical teachings and practices may restore happiness in our life. And in this respect Mahavira's doctrines have profound significance in the present society as it was in the past. To be precise, if Jaina Philosophy is properly understood, one is inclined to believe that it will contribute much to the development of human personality and will make life worth living. A proper understanding of Mahavira's teachings will lessen the misery and dishonesty, corruption and fear, malice and hatred under whose pressure the present world is so helplessly growning. It should be noted here that the basic idea of non-violence is not to control the outward events of one's life, but to control the inward temper in which he faces these events. So the practice of non-violence will teach us not how to control events in the world around us, but how to preserve a purely inward integrity and balance of mind ; in other words, how to conquer a world from a world both hostile and intractable. Mahavira's intellectual empire as reflected through his principies of non-violence is imperishable, and the heart of a great number of people, burst up into boundless admiration, has been greatly moulded from deep thousands of years over the whole terrain of Indian life. A section of people still believes that Mahavira's doctrines should be preached and practised in this world of to-day-a world which is full of toil and turmoil, a world which is full of violence and conflicts, a world where the values of human lives are jeoparadised at the altar of human power, a world where beastly propensities of human beings are increasing rapidly, where the human finer qualities are sacrificed for the cause of material expansion and prosperity, and where lives of all sorts are butchered as food for gun-powders. It is also believed that if Mahavira's basic tenets are imparted to the present generation as a part of their education, a new world may usher up in course of time, where there will be no violence, but a permanent bliss will pervade all over the world. To conclude, his teachings will deepen our ideas and thoughts, broaden our vision, highten our mental horizon, strengthen our mind with a new vigour and enlighten our future generation for the betterment of lifel. 1 This is a summary of the lecture delivered by me at Y.M.C.A. Mahatma Gandhi Hall, London, on 26th April, 1975. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
