World Problems And Jain Ethics

Author(s): Beni Prasad
Publisher: Beni Prasad

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Untruthfulness, indeed, is an aspect of the process that revolves round force and can be eliminated only with the latter. It may be possible for men today to speak the literal truth in private life. But that does not touch more than the fringe of the problem. The problem is two-fold; how to render it feasible for the average man to behave with perfect sincerity, honesty and straightforwardness in private as well as public life and how to render it feasible for corporations, political parties and States, specially in their dealings with foreigners, to maintain the same standards of sincerity and frankness as are expected in private life. The social interest demands an environment in which truth will pay not only in the long run but also immediately and readily. Here again we perceive that life is a single whole; its aspects are interdependent; things inevitably form a circle. It is necessary to break a vicious circle at as many points as possible. It is patent that a conscious effort at higher standards of truth is necessary both in national and international affairs. The higher the standards of truthfulness, the easier it would become to lift society from the present rut to a place of greater reason and higher morality. III
HONESTY ( अस्तेय ).
It is obvious that such a social re-organisation postulates cordial and habitual respect on the part of every one for the rights of every one else. This