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64: Śramana, Vol 63, No. 3, July-Sep. 2012
mutual contracts to a revision of social and economic arrangements. It is a matter of the first importance that all institutional reorganisations be accompanied by a corresponding mental attitude, in short a corresponding outlook on life. Non-violence is the prime cause of maintaining the world peace. Because non-violence is the first step towards world peace. The cult of non-violence has taken quite a new turn in Jainism and has been thresed out with its minute detail.
(2) Truthfulness (Satya):
Truth or Saccam, (Prakrit) as a positive term and 'Mṛṣāvāda-virati' as a negative term have prominent place in Jainism. In Indian theory it is considered the true essence of the whole universe17 and is even more profound than the ocean and more stable than Mount Meru. It is also conceived as God or Bhagavana18 as Mahatma Gandhi conceived. Apparently, it is the metaphysical truth understood as highly important in Jain scriptures. As a moral principle also it is considered very significant. It is said that those who have established themselves in truth acquire insurmountable fame; they are appreciated not only by human beings but also by gods.19 Further it is said, "the ground under the feet of those who speak truth is rooted in right knowledge and right conduct becomes holy.20
Here again the way of truth is as straight as that of non-violence. There is a proverb that truth conquers (Satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ ). It is true if it means that truth or sincerity prevails in the long run. It is patent that a conscious effort at higher standards of truth is necessary both in national and international affairs. The higher the standards of truthfulness, the easier it would become to lift society from the present status to place of great reason and higher morality.
(3)Non-stealing (Asteya):
It is obvious that such a social re-organisation postulates cordial and habitual respect on the part of every one for the right of every one else. This is the inner core of the third anuvrata named as Asteya or Acaurya. Literally, it only means abstinence from stealing, but the underlying spirit of this aṇuvrata is that one should not encroach
