World Religions Conference November 1957

Author(s): Sushil Muni
Publisher: Achal Singh Seth

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Objects of the Conference
of violence and the abuse of scientific skill and material power constitute a contemptuous negation of the principles of equality and co-existence. The arrogant power of State Sovereignty is to-day conscripted in the unrestricted play of violence. The concentration of unlimited powers in Sovereign States threatens to assume the form of an evil curse for mankind. There is no doubt that an abiding solution of the problems and crises which confront us, is to be found in a Non-violent Social Order.
India's contribution in the realm of Non-violent thought and deed has heen outstanding. Some 2500 years ago, Lord Mahavira and Gautam Budha expounded the noble principles of Non-violence and its Spiritual Basis. Gandhil effectively introduced this principle in the field of politics and showed that politics devoid of Ahimsa, is barren. Vinobaji has successfully applied the principle of Non-violence in the solution of social problems through his bold and exemplary experiments. The path of Non-violence is the path of self resurrection and inner awakening. The great prophets of World Religions and the Fore-runners of Moral and Social Regenerations like Pythagoras of Greece, Lao-Tse of China, Tolstoy of Russia, Dukhovaars and Quakers have all been the adherents of the philosophy of Non-violence.
Religion and Ahimsa
Religion in a broad sense is the spiritual history of mankind. It has been inextricably Interwoven with the progress of art, literature, culture and civilization. Religion has given us the vision of oneness of the human ráce and the fundamental unity underlying all sentient life. Unfortunately true religion is to-day obscured by orthodoxy and deformed by sectarianism. The elixir of Non-violence is the fruit of the union of religion and morality. We earnestly expect that the participants in the forth-coming Conference will devote their best attention to the philosophy of Ahimsa and to the implementation of the precepts of Non-violence in actual life and general education. Very little attention is being paid to-day to impart any instruction for the non-violent way of life which suffers from neglect and lack of effort.
If we desire to establish peace and to conquer the haunting nightmare of war and discord, we must be free from three evils--Atheism, Materialism and Violence.
There have been three main causes of conflicts and war-winger of the belly, hunger of the mind and hunger of the soul. The only remedy for toliese is Ahimsa' which works in three ways-Socialistic way of possession (Apristaha), Search of Relative Truth (Anekantvad) and Restraint. (Sanyam).
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