World Religions Conference November 1957

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

Page 95

Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India
Nature and is succeeding in his attempt. He has acquired control on atomic energies and has built new weapons. He has sent up artificial satellites and looks forward to exploring the mysteries of space. You must be reading of these matters in the newspapers; they must be filling you with wonder: but perhaps you must be forgetting them soon after. Yet all this means that the world is in for a great change, that it is taking a great turn. What will be the result of it? one can say nothing. With all these great energies at man's control, the result will be good only if we use them to good purpose. But if we use them towards destruction it may mean the annihilation of the world. Who knows what may happen. But one thing is plain that if our methods remain those of violence, of a cold war, then doom is inevitable, Once the great weapons have been let loose nothing can recall them. After all it will not be an ordinary war. Thus we have reached a stage when the great ideals have forced themselves into our notice.
Let us study the path of Ahimsa and friendship and see if we can be friends with even those with whom we disagree. However in the world people are often led astray through anger or foolishness. But what does it matter if an idiot speaks ill of us? If we are friendly towards others, we ultimately help ourselves. So I would exhort you to try and follow the great ideals, the path of Ahimsa of which we talk so much, for it will prove the best for us.
88