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Śramana, Vol. 61, No. 2
April - June 10
KARUNĀ AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
ITS SOCIAL IMPLEMENTATION
Dulichand Jain *
[Karuņā is the base of the philosophy of Non-violence advocated by Mahāvīra and Buddha. It is the pivot around which all the ethical virtues like friendliness, compassion, equanimity, tolerance, harmony and Jivadayā revolve. Inspired by Karuņā, the author has established a social organisation "Karuna International' the main thrust of which is to implant the seeds of love and kindness among the childrens through schooling and promoting animal shelters, animal feeding, environmental maintenance and other similar events. In this paper the author exhibits the contributions made by the said organisation.]
Some concepts and ideas are so powerful that they can have the power to transform the human mind and the human condition in a significant way. Karuņā as propounded by the Jaina Tīrthankaras is one such potent tool. The Jaina scriptures teach that life is precious to one and all; hence one should not cause harm even to the subtlest form of life. Such an attitude fosters kindness and friendliness which can unite hearts and minds. Live and let live - said Lord Mahāvīra. This slogan contains the answer to many of the problems that plague the world today such as disharmony, war cruelty, terrorism, pollution, environmental degradation, ecological imbalance - to name a few. Today there is great need to protect the environment and ecology from disaster. Such problems have taken on an overwhelming proportion, and there is a dire need to understand that they have arisen because of our selfishness and selfcentredness. They have arisen because we are not in harmony with the universe, with others, and with our own selves.
President, Karuna International, 70, Sembudoss Street, Chennai-600001
