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EDITORIAL
In the cultural history of mankind, only those people who have remained alive to the essential values of life are capable of meeting the challenge of situations arising from the animal nature in man. Psychologically speaking, we may say that animality is very strong in man, so much so that in every walk of life it makes its gross as well as sophisticated appearance. In fact, the history of civilization presents a constant fight between the humane and the animal in man. The rise of humanistic religions in different parts of world invites our attention to this fact, with the message that ethico-spiritual values inaugurate the all-round progress of the individual and society. But with the advancement of science and technology, new values of life have emerged. The rate of value change has grown very high, and in consequence it has baffled the great intellectuals of our times. It has shattered "the presumed identity between one generation and the next and has made it impossible to predict future values by simple straight-line projection." Thus the present century is the century of conflict between the values arisen from the impact of science on human behaviour and the values fostered by religions. Notwithstanding all this, religions which are the guardians of the essential values of life are not antagonistic to the scientific advancements. On the contrary, they are disposed to make use of the findings of science, so long as the essential values of life are not hampered.
In consonance with the above-mentioned spirit of religions, the Fourth World Jain Congress has been dedicated to the promotion of Ahimsa and World-peace, to the propagation of vegetarianism and spiritualism, to the upliftment of women and to the inculcation of value-oriented behaviour patterns in the Youth. Besides, this conference proposes to highlight the contribution of Jainism in diverse fields of knowledge. The publication of the Souvenir presenting the varied aspects of Jaina philsophy and culture will bring forth the cultural heritage of the jainas in a nutshell. The following running survey will introduce the reader to the general outline of the material presented in the Souvenir,
From the fact that the Hindu tradition regards Rsabhadeva as an incarnation of God, it can be said that it accepts Rsabhadeva as the founder of Jainism.
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