Relevance of Mahavira's teachings today

CHENNAI, APRIL 6. The new age might have given us a whole lot of comforts, but we have lost something much more precious - peace of mind. The need of the hour all over the world is peace since life and strife go hand in hand, at various levels. We experience deterioration in moral and ethical values. Invariably, people in general display dishonesty, hypocrisy and greed. The craze for materialistic gains keeps us immersed in anxiety, fear and sorrow. In turn, we are losing mental peace. Where do we look for peace?

India has been the land of sages, seers and saints, who propagated ways of realising peace. The contribution of such noble souls holds much relevance today. The life and teachings of Mahavira (599-27 B.C.), the 24th Tirthankara, is relevant today and 2600 years later the spiritual power and moral grandeur of Mahavira's teachings continue to enlighten our paths. Like a boat made available for a man in the midst of turbulent waters, he has shown us how we can attain freedom from the cycle of life, birth, pain, misery and sorrow and how we can reach the state of mental bliss. Mahavira's teachings reflect the impulse towards internal beauty and harmony of the soul.

Of particular relevance and significance is his teachings of the five vows and three steps to liberation of the Self. Mahavira laid great stress on the fact that peace is within each one of us. His own life demonstrated how he enjoyed peace by avoiding craze for possessions and detachment. He was born as a prince but renounced the pleasures of the palace in search of peace. Through severe penance and fasting he realised it and preached that Divinity is in us and we should take steps to realise it.

The three steps, Mahavira's philosophy of ``Samyak darshana'' (right faith), ``Samyak jnana'' (right knowledge) and ``Samyak charitra'' (right conduct) show the light towards self- liberation. His message of five vows is full of universal compassion. Non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), non- stealing (Achuri), chastity (Brahmacharya) and non-possession (Aparigraha) are the five gateways to a peaceful saintly life.

Through his teachings, Mahavira made religion simple and free from elaborate rituals and complexities suited to men of modern days who are always in a hurry.

P. S. Surana,

Chennai.

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