________________
NEW IDEOLOGIES NEW TRADITIONS
175
9 War and Non-invasion —
Space is a continum and still man has been availing of the opportunity to break this continuity by building houses since his advent The purpose of disintegrating space is to win comfort Man is not at ease in an unbroken space while a compartmentalised space suits him The universalised fraternity of creatures does not please his ego so much as the diversified groups do Man's ego has been disintegrating humanity into numberless segments to please itself
A nation is an example of this division A fragment of land ruled by a distinct government and constitution is a nation It holds a separate identity as against other nations Its boundary divides it from other similar nations and thus segregates the humanity itself This division creates rival interests and the fruit of rivalries is war that pollutes human mind with a war-mania
Lord Mahavira opposed war-mongering since human Interests are mutual and not rival They harmonise with one another Ego and ambition have generated rivalries The apparent competition is more imaginary than real The contemporary politics put a premium on warfare Martial deeds were eulogised A Sanskrit couplet symbolizes the contemporary martial craze
'The one victorious wins the riches
If dead he lives amongst the heavenly damsels The life is brief
If lost in a battle-field there need be no regrets'
War-mongering was extolled as a virtue with mundane and transcendental glories Certain spiritual institutions also endorsed it to raise a voice against this craze was to endanger one's own popularity Mahavira exposed the mad war-race ruthlessly It was a voice against the wars fought for selfish ends It was a voice raised in support of vast human interests It was a voice against cowardice that hankered after safety into the citadel of arms It was a voice against the sky-rocketing
