Science And Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Raksha J Shah, Abhijit Muni, Pooja Banthia
Publisher: International Conference on Science and Jain Philosophy

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RELEVANCE OF JAIN ETHICS IN
PROMOTING PEACE
DR. H. R. NAGENDRA AND RAGHUNANDAN chancellor@suyasa.edu.in
Dr. H. R.Nagendra, PhD in Mechanical Engineering from IISc, Bangalore is the president of VYASA and the Chancellor of S-VYASA Deemed University. He has published 30 Research Papers in Engineering: authored and collected 110 papers on Yoga and coauthored 35 books on Yoga. He has guided nearly 20 PhD students.
Principle of Jaina Ethics
Ethical discipline is an important aspect of Jainism. It has a twofold objective i.e. spiritual purification and making an individual a worthy social being. The ethical discipline is well graded in Jainism to suit an individual. It is prescribed according to his will to carry it out sincerely, without any negligence either in its understanding or in its practice. Jaina ethics is based neither on oneness of life as in Vedanta, nor on momentary nature of soul as in Buddhism. It is based on equality of life. Basically all souls are equal. The social organizations as anticipated by Jaina ethics, do not make any distinction on the basis of caste, creed or colour.
The metaphysical Reality or Truth of logical coherence will remain merely a theoretical possibility unless it is translated into good of life through right-living. In fact, the Reality or Truth is supra-logical and can be better realized by living it practically than by speculating on it intellectually. Indian philosophy in general and Jainism in particular, therefore, ascribes the supreme place of all the branches of philosophy to ethics. The foundation of the ethical discipline is the doctrine of Ahimsa. If we correctly comprehend it, it will be seen that it is the recognition of the inherent right of an individual to live, and is generally expressed that every one wants to live and no body likes to die. No one has any right to destroy or harm any other living being. Viewed as such Ahimsa is the fundamental law of civilized life and rational living, and thus forms the basis of all moral instructions in Jainism.
Jaina Ethics for Present Day Problems of Global Civilization.
Syādvāda, which has become almost a synonym for Jainism, teaches us that the same truth could be differently expressed without involving us in any real contradiction. Jainism has always kept the problems of global civilization in view, and shown the utility of Jaina ethical concepts for humanity in general. Jaina ācāryas have always stood for the dignity of man, and equality of all, aduocated the birth-right of independence of all individuals and have preached the elevated ideal of non-violence. When there is realization of the true nature of the self and when one is completely absorbed in the bliss of self-realisation, the observance of all the moral rules become spontaneous, coming from within and not being imposed from out. No ethical study could be useful unless it provides an answer to the problems with which our lives are beset. The problems of global civilization arise out of various factors, which can be classified under the following broad categories:
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