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Chapter - II
THE RELEVANCE OF THE TEACHINGS OF LORD MAHĀVĪRA IN THE MODERN AGE*
Problems encountering modern world
The present age is called the age of science and technology. There is a virtual explosion of information technology, which has brought nations and people closer to each other. New scientific thoughts have influenced every person's life and provide him more amenities and facilities. But the question arises whether science has made man's life happier and harmonious? The answer to this question is in the negative. Today man's life is full of tension, anxieties and disorders. In the race for progress and growth, man has forgotten the real purpose of his life. Today, man knows much more about the external world but very little about his own self. He is leading a life full of disharmony and conflicts.
On the international level we find that man has conquered all the agencies of nature and made ordinary person's life more comfortable than it was earlier. But on the other hand, we find alarming growth of the armament industry and production of powerful bombs and explosive materials. If unfortunately there is another nuclear war, it will be most dangerous and will result in the destruction of the whole humanity. Another problem mankind
* This is reproduced from the Jain Journal, Calcutta, Volume XXXVI, July 2001.
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