Jainism The Cosmic Vision Kumarpal Desai Mahavir Foundation London, U.K. Desai, Kumarpal Preface Jainism : The Cosmic Vision / In 1969 I bagan writing my Ph.D. thesis on ‘Mahayogi Kumarpal Desai - Ahmedabad : Anandghanji’ and my interest in the Jain philosophy, as propounded by Mahavir Foundation, London, U.K., 2008 Yogi Anandghanji, was aroused. I was struck by its universality, its 1 Jainism DDC 294.4 spiritual depth and its contemporary relevance. I had inherited the legacy of Samskar from my father Jaibhikhkhu whose 300 books were largely based on Jain lore. I read those books avidly and that expanded my horizons. I had many opportunities in and outside country to deliver lectures on Jain philosophy, and I had the unique honour to address the World Price : Rs. 250 First Edition : June 2008 © Kumarpal Desai Parliament of Religions at Chicago, Cape Town and the United Nations Chapel in New York. During the course of my lecture series, I visited Published by different countries twenty-seven times. Through the columns in 'Gujarat Mahavir Foundation 11 Lindsay Drive, Kenton, Samachar' and the encouragement of its editor late Shri Shantilal Shah, Middlesex, HA3 0TA I could reach a wider audience by explicating the fundamental principles London, U.K. of Jainism. About fifteen books have been published in English and a couple of books about Jain religion have been edited. The present volume Also available at : comprises the lectures and talks delivered on different occasions. Gurjar Agencies Insitute of Jainology Opp. Ratanpole Naka, B-101, Samay Apartments, Jain religion is a way of life and the present volume shows how it Gandhi Road, Azad Society, Ambawadi, can be useful in dealing with the problems of the contemporary society. Ahmedabad-380 001 Ahmedabad-380 015 The lecture would not have seen the light of the day but for the love and Phone : 2676 2082 affection of Shri Prafull Lakhani and the courtesy of Shrimad Rajchandra Navbharat Sahitya Mandir Seva Kendra. Near Patasa Pole, 134, Princess Street, The concepts of non-violence, truth, detachment, anekant and Gandhi Road, Mumbai-400 002 Ahmedabad-380 001 environment found in Jain religion can hold becon light to the world and similarly the values such as restraint, vegetarianism, forgiveness Printers : are the need of the hour. If some of these get percolated to society and Dream Graphics humanity at large, my efforts would not have gone in vain. Sabarmati, Ahmedabad-380 005 1-7-2008 – Kumarpal Desai III Contents Foreword Foreword VII ‘Jainism – The Cosmic Vision’ is the latest among the highly 1. The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion 1 illuminating books on Jain religion authored by Dr. Kumarpal Desai. 2. Essence of Jainism 24 It is refreshingly enlightening, informative and analytical on the multi- faceted aspects of Jainism. 3. Towards A Truly Global Society 37 The sixteen chapters taken together portray in an eloquent manner 4. Compassion Towards Animals 48 how jain teachings have assumed considerable contemporary value not 5. Vegetarianism 63 only as an ancient religious doctrine or sectarian discipline for the 6. Kshamapana 74 followers of the faith, but as a path-finder for evolving a spiritual 7. Non-Violence : A Way of Life 103 ecological and ethical way of life and art of living for the wider 8. Timeless Message of Bhagwan Mahavira 136 humanity. 9. Predictions of Tirthankara Mahavira 148 All through history, it has been witnessed that violence cannot be eradicated by violence; on the contrary it has served to aggravate it. 10. A Journey of Ahimsa 157 Humanity needs to develop a mindset that Ahimsa integrated with 11. Role of Women in Jain Religion 177 Aparigraha and Anekant, as elaborated in Jain philosophy, alone can be 12. Human Rights And Jainism 189 the ultimate saviour of this strife-torn. terror-targetted and environ- 13. Virchand Raghavji Gandhi 204 mentally - polluted world of ours. 14. Activities of Jain Religion in the Last Century 213 The choice today is not between violence and non-violence, but 15. Jain Diaspora 241 between non-violence and total destruction. The timeless message of 16. The Agam Vani in the Teachings of Shrimad Rajchandra 250 Mahavira of love and compassion, live and let live, equanimity and synthesis, tolerance and peaceful coexistence has indeed deeply influenced India's cultural heritage and spiritual outlook. Indeed, as the book bringsout in a vivid manner how Mahatma Gandhi imbibed the message of truth, restraint and non-violence from his saintly Jain Guru Shrimad Rajchandra, and used it as a potent instrument for launching a successful and persuasive struggle against the British colonial rule without any trace of rancor, hostility or hatred. The book provides yet another valuable input on the need of global IV V Jain diaspora getting together to formulate a global strategy and action Books by Kumarapal Desai programme so that ‘compassion in action’ as propounded by Jain On Jainism : religion reaches the needy and the deserving all over the world. 1. Anandghan : A Study (1980) 2. Stabak by Gyanvimalsuri (1980) The issue of human rights and compassion towards animals has 3. Activities of Jain religion in the last decade (1988) been dealt with in the wider back-drop of ‘Right to life’, Carl Sagan, 4. Literary Achievements of Kalikal Sarvagna Hemchandracharya the renowned American cosmic scientist has commented that Jain (1988) religion is the only religion that has put on the highest pedastal of 5. Moti Ni Kheti (Religious tales from Jain religion) (1983) thought and action the principle of ‘Right to life’ for not only human 6. Monograph on the life and works of Shri Buddhisagarji entitled beings but all living beings as well as elements of nature in this universe. “Balako Na Buddhisagarji.”(1978) After all human destiny is inextrically interwoven with them in a divine 7. Kshamapana : review of the tendency to forgive from the point of web of interdependence. view of Jainology (1990) My felicitations to Dr. Kumarpal Desai for this very welcome 8. Bhagwan Mahavir : Life and Principles of Lord Mahavir (1990) 9. Bhagwan Rishabhdev : Life and teachings of the First Tirthankara addition to the growing literature in English language on Jain religion of religion (1987) in a global perspective. 10. Bindu Banyu Moti : tales from Jain Religion (1986) - Dr. N. P. Jain 11. Anandghan : Life and Works (1988) Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, U.N., European Union, Mexico and Belgium 12. Atmagyani Shraman Kahave : Life of Acharyashri Kailassagar Surishwarji (1989) 13. Bhagwan Mallinath : Biography (1989) 14. Balavabodh of Merusunder (1990) 15. Shri Mahavirjivandarshan : detailed study of the life and teachings of Lord Mahavira (1998). 16. Jain Dharm, Shrimad Rajchandra ane Mahatma Gandhi (2003) Edited books on Jainism : 1. Shankheshwar Mahatirth (F.E. 1936, Sixth Ed. 1983) 2. Jaybhikhkhu Ni Jain Dharmakathao : Religious tales of Jaybhikhkhu; compilation in 2 volumes. (1985) 3. “Ojas Ditha Atmabal Na” (1983) and “Dhanya Chhe Dharma Tane”: (1987) Edited versions of lectures by Vijay Vallabhsuriji. 4. Ratnatrayi Na Aajwala (1997) 5. Samayik Sutra with explanation. VI VII In English : 1. Stories from Jainism (1998) 2. Bhagwan Mahavir (1990) 3. Non-Violence : A way of life (Bhagwan Mahavir) (1990) 4. Kshamapana (1990) 5. Glory of Jainism (1998) Jainism 6. A Pinnacle of Spirituality (2000) The Cosmic Vision 7. Essence of Jainism (2000) 8. The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion (2000) 9. Role of Women in Jain Religion (2000) 10. The Timeless Message of Bhagwan Mahavir (2000) 11. Vegetarianism (2000) 12. A Journey of Ahimsa (2002) 13. Our life in the context of five Anuvrats and Anekantwad (2002) 14. Influence of Jainism on Mahatma Gandhi (2002) 15. Tirthankara Mahavira (2003) 16. Trailokyadeepak Ranakpur Tirth (2007) Other Literary Books : Collection of Short Stories [1] Biographies [20] Children's Literature [20] Research Books [6] Criticism [6] Translation [1] Books on Journalism [1] Spiritual Literature [12] Edited Books [26] Hindi Books [7] Miscellaneous [3] VIII 1 The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion V……‰ ∫…Ω˛∫∫…Δ ∫…Ω˛∫∫……h…Δ ∫…ΔM……®…‰ n÷˘VV…B V…h…‰ * BM…Δ V…h…‰VV… +{{……h…Δ B∫… ®…‰ {…Æ˙®……‰ V…+…‰ ** A lbert Einstein remarked that the eternal – =k…Æ…v™…™…x… ∫…⁄j…, 9-34 mystery of the world is its intelligibility.True religion fastens to this element of intelligibility and creates a In war a man may defeat a million invicible system of thought and action which leads to true enemies but conquering one’s own self is harmony and bliss. And it is indeed so with Jainism. the greatest victory. Jainism is one of the oldest living religions of – Uttaradhayayan Sutra, 9-34 the world. The term Jain means the devotee of Jinas (Spiritual Victors). Jinas are called so because they have won victory over passions of attachment, aversion, etc. that defile the soul. As a result, they have attained omniscience and supreme bliss. They are enlightened human teachers. They are also called Tirthankaras (Ford-makers). Here in the context, ford means Tirthankara’s words and teaching which help living beings to cross the ocean of misery or transmigratory existence. In every half- cycle of Time, there flourish twenty-four Tirthankaras. The twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the present half-cycle of Time is Vardhamana, known as Mahavira. 1 Jainism : The Cosmic Vision The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion Mahavira was born in 599 B.C. in a royal family in southward to Maharashtra and Karnataka, where Jainism Kshatriyakunda, a wellknown city of the ancient kingdom of rapidly grew in popularity. Videha (modern Bihar). At the age of thirty, to find out the path The Jain canons contain some sixty texts and is divided to Ultimate Release from all misery, he renounced the world, into three main groups, the Purva (old texts : 14 books), the embarked upon a spiritual career and lived a life of a Jain Angas (limbs : 12 books) and the Angabahya (subsidiary ascetic.