Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 85

TOWARDS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES: ASOKAN MESSAGE
N. H. SAMTANI
Every religion aims at raising the quality of moral and spiritual life of man. But the root cause of prevailing tensions is self-righteousness belief of certain leaders of religious movements and campaigns that their religion alone is supreme and panacea for all the problems of mankind. This thinking has brought the conflicts to the fore. What we urgently need today is removal of seeds of hatred and malevolence from the minds of religious communities. Even an atheist's self-righteousness if it leads to intolerance of ot ers' views is to be deprecated for it also leads to mutual distrust and consequent tensions.
There are institutions in this world for removal and eradication of physical diseases. But the supreme need of an hour is the establishment of an institution for eradication of communal hatred and bigotory from the minds of men, the disease which is eating into the vitals of society and threatening the future of mankind. It is necessary to conduct rescarch into this developing malaise. What are the causes of mutual distrust and hatred between communities? There are some communities who profess to be secular and liberal in their outlook but adopt a superiority complex vis-a-vis doctrines of other groups.
Here the Buddha's message of universal friendliness (Maitri) and loving kindness (karuna) towards all, transcending all boundaries, is quite relevant in the present age of hatred, suspicion and mutual disbelief developing into ever-increasing tensions. What we really lack is tolerance of viewpoint of others. Taday Islamic fundamentalism, Hindu supremacy, Christian self-righteousness, Buddhist escapism, Jain ascetism, are adding to our problems instead of bringing any solution. What we need today is a new approach towards global problems so that the future of humanity is not jeopardised.
In my view the violence and communal hatred are contrary to the spiritual content of all the religions of the world. Founders of religions have never been bigoted and narrow-minded. They have been truly great because they were liberal in their outlook. It is only misguided followers who have created gulf between adherents of different religious denominations and sections of humanity. It is high time to launch a movement of freeing the word from mutual fear, suspicion, tension and hatred.