Book Title: Study of Jainism
Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 223
________________ 208 Study of Jainism v. Atibhara vahana : is an infraction of the vow of parimitaparig raha when one, out of greed for more profit, overloads an animal like the horse and bullock carts. This is a form of hisa. The animal suffers due to heavy weight of loading beyond its capacity. In the modern age, even over-loading a truck for quick profit will be an infraction of this vow. The underlying principle is abstention from greed. These are the aticaras one should avoid, while practising the aṇuvşata of parimita parigsaha. Aparig saha vşata has a great social significance, specially in the modern society when the ethical values are fast disappearing. We find that, greed for material possessions will lead a son to ignore his father and countless evil conseques will follow.57 Present day society is dangerously beset with disvalues. Old values have been lost, the new have not yet emerged. We are blind to bigher values of life, while pursuing social and political ends. Power and self are the ultimate ends for us today. Half-educated immature political morones are corrupting the lives of the people in society. We are talking of socialism and the good of the common man without in the least thinking of the common man's interest. Socialism is a slogan for a vote-catching technique. By restricting the funda mental right to property, we are taking away the incentive to work. By this the rich are becoming poor and the poor are poorer. We have become helpless spectators in the fierce drama of hatred, averice and violence. Under the baneful garb of ideologies and committed society, we are destroying the very foundations of society. Socialism brought by force, violence and hatred will not bring lasting happiness to man. Western idealogies may not all be suitable for us in the way that are being practised there. We can harness our spiritual tradition to the social and political problems of the present day. Gandhiji spiritualised social and political life of our country to a great extent. Our spiritual socialism based on the principle of love and sacrifice will be far superior and more lasting. If we understand the implications of the aņuvsata movement in the proper perspective, our social and political problems will be solved without the use of force and with love and Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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