The Truth

Author(s): O P Jain
Publisher: Veer Nirvan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 85

THE TRUTH
but also on national levels: Sexual matters are simply disposed off as being too personal to involve any consideration of morals. It will thus be seen that for moral conduct to have any meaning, it must be related to its effect on the soul. Then only they will be practised with the seriousness they deserve, with consequent benefit of spiritual uplift. It will be seen that the so-called morals form part of the Right Conduct recommended for spiritual emancipation. It is the love of this great ideal and the fear of automatic ill effect on the soul of evil deeds, which will constitute an effective check on our savagery, lust and greed.
6.7 Ahimsa : Ahimsa has been described as the highest form of dharma (religion) and the highest cultural development of man. Unfortunately, this is a doctrine which has been grossly misunderstood by men; by some on account of an inadequate acquaintance with the basic truth of religion and by others because of a fanciful notion that its observance interferes with the enjoyment of the pleasures of taste and the realisation of dreams of world power. A proper regard for one's welfare requires that one should control one's senses in all respects where they are in conflict with one's good. Uncontrolled sense indulgence has been described by the wise as a sign of lurking 'cattledom'. The object of life, it has been pointed out by every thinking man, is not living to eat, but eating to live. The same considerations apply to other ambitions, for what shall a man profit if he gains all the goods of the world but loses his own soul ?
Life is dear to all, and it is the recogntion of the right to the joy of living in others that ensures our own joy.
. It is wrong to imagine that ahimsa was the cause of political downfall of India. Were the Indians vanquished by invaders from West because they observed ahimsa ? or because their mutual fueds and jealousies prevented them from presenting a combined front ? Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated the true power of ahimsa in his struggle with the British might and disproved the above. It is the weapon of the stoutest 'heart. It is a method in its nature undefeatable. In non-violent technique, there is no such thing as defeat, it is all do or die' without killing or hurting. Ahimsa does not forbid a Nation from fighting in defence. The fight is against the evil and not against individuals. Such a fight . ends in friendship and love, while a violent fight gives rise to unending fights. ..!