Universal Message of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 21

The Relevance of the Teachings of Lord Mahāvīra in ...
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facing is that inequality is increasing amongst the nations and peoples. The world is divided into 'haves' and 'have-nots'. The USA, which has just 6% of the world's population, consumes 30% of the world's resources whereas the majority of the people of the globe are suffering from scarcity, wants and impoverishment. Life in advanced countries is also not harmonious. Families are broken up and relationships snapped, individuals feel isolated and alienated with a sense of vacuum and boredom. The economic growth alone as the yardstick for measuring standard of life to the exclusion of all other values has verily led to the destruction of human personality.
Last year, a report titled “Broken Family Life' appeared in The Economist which presents a grim picture of the so-called advanced western society: quite a large number of people are involved in the misuse of drugs and guns resulting in violent crimes and unbecoming behaviour in public, etc. It states * The importance of marriage has become irrelevant in the
management of family and growing up of children. The rate of divorce has doubled between 1960 and 1996,
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In 1960 the percentage of unmarried mothers was only 5 %, it has gone up to 32% in 1996. In 1972, 28% children were living with either father or mother (one of them) of their married parents; in 1998 52% of the children live with either mother or father (one of them) of their married parents. Even married couples do not want to beget children in America. In 1972, 45% married couples did not have any children; their percentage has gone up to 62% in 1996.