Mahavir Ka Sarvodaya Shasan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Mahavir ka Sarvodaya Shasan" by Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri, focusing on the key themes and arguments presented in the excerpt:

The text begins by starkly contrasting the modern world's situation with the ideals of Lord Mahavir's teachings. It highlights the perilous state of the world, plagued by violence, spiritual darkness, and the hypocrisy of leaders who speak of peace and non-violence while harboring inner malice, much like Lady Macbeth's advice to her husband.

The Dire Situation:

Selfishness and Hypocrisy: The author argues that nations are driven by extreme selfishness. Political leaders, while discussing world peace and non-violence, often act with cruelty. They engage in luxurious lifestyles, consume meat and alcohol, and preach peace without genuine inner commitment to it. This is likened to searching for light in darkness while embracing demonic tendencies.
The Peril of Science: Modern science, while providing comfort, has also given rise to destructive weapons like the atomic bomb, plunging the world into deep anxiety. This has created an environment of fear and a lack of affection. Dr. Iqbal's critique of violent progress is cited, noting advancements in destruction without the ability to prevent death.
Einstein's Warning: The text references eminent authorities, including Einstein, who have warned of the danger of the extinction of all life on the planet due to the escalating power of destructive weapons.
Sanctity of Life vs. Sanctity of the Knife: The author laments that people have replaced the sanctity of life with the sanctity of the knife in their hearts, signifying a shift towards violence.
The Law of the Jungle: The principle of "might makes right" ("Jivo Jivasya Bhakshanam" - one living being is the food of another, or the fittest survive) is attributed to the animal kingdom and pure, selfish individuals. Humans, being endowed with reason and intellect, are urged to broaden their perspective and recognize the sanctity of all life, not just their own.

The Path of Sarvodaya:

Lord Mahavir's Solution: Lord Mahavir is presented as the proponent of "Sarvodaya," a doctrine of the upliftment and welfare of all beings, in all times and in all aspects.
Ephemeral Nature of Violence-Based Development: Any development or luxury built on violence is destined to collapse.
Sarvodaya as the End of Calamity: Acharya Samantabhadra is quoted describing Mahavir's "tirtha" (teachings/path) as the self-destructive and all-encompassing Sarvodaya, which eradicates all calamities.
The Source of Suffering: Lord Mahavir identified violence as the root cause of all suffering in the world, as stated in the scripture: "Himsa prasutani sarvaduhkhani" (All sorrows arise from violence).
The Power of Non-Violence: The text emphasizes the immense power of non-violence, citing Mahatma Gandhi's successful use of it to achieve India's independence. It argues that non-violence is a superior weapon to any physical armament, as it destroys enmity rather than just the enemy. Ashoka's conquest of Kalinga and Kharavel's subsequent victory are used to illustrate this point, highlighting how non-violent methods can be more impactful in the long run.
Amritatva through Non-Violence: Acharya Amritchandra is quoted stating that non-violence is the supreme "rasayan" (elixir) that leads to immortality (Amritatva, or Nirvana), awakening the soul's infinite divine powers.
Divine Attribute of Mercy: Mercy is described as an attribute of God, and the more mercy a person possesses, the more divine they become.

Self-Control and the Renunciation of Vices:

Essential for Non-Violence: The practice of non-violence requires self-strength and victory over desires. It demands effort to transform lower tendencies into higher ones, akin to the labor required to lift water against its natural downward flow.
The Seven Vices: The text lists seven vices – gambling, meat-eating, intoxication, lust, hunting, theft, and adultery – as the root of suffering and the cause of the soul's downfall, which also harm the world. Renouncing these is crucial for the practice of non-violence.
Purity of Diet and Thought: The purity of food is directly linked to the purity of thoughts. Meat and alcohol are considered to cloud the mind and generate negative feelings. The text cites Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi on the impact of diet on mental states and the importance of moderation and fasting in controlling the mind.
Scientific and Philosophical Support: Scientific findings and philosophical arguments from thinkers like Leo Tolstoy and T.L. Vaswani are presented to support the idea that meat consumption increases animalistic tendencies, while vegetarianism promotes peace and gentleness.
The Argument Against Meat-Eating: The text addresses the flawed argument that consuming plants is equivalent to harming life. It differentiates between the nature of plants and animals, deeming flesh, eggs, and similar substances inherently undesirable. The comparison between a mother and wife, or a bird and a deity, is used to illustrate that while both might be consumed, one is more suitable than the other due to its nature. The origin of plants from water and animals from semen and blood is also highlighted as a reason to avoid consuming animal flesh.

The Householder's Practice of Non-Violence:

Dual Nature of Non-Violence: Non-violence is practiced differently by ascetics (shramanas) and householders.
Limitations for Householders: Householders, due to their responsibilities in agriculture, trade, and national defense, cannot fully practice non-violence. However, they are encouraged to strive for compassion and to meticulously avoid intentional violence.
Jain Kshatriyas and Non-Violence: The text explains that Jain Kshatriyas, while personally adhering to non-vegetarianism, used weapons for the protection of the innocent and the establishment of justice. This was seen as a way to uphold broader principles of compassion, virtue, and good conduct by suppressing widespread injustice and tyranny. This is supported by quotes from Jain scriptures emphasizing the duty of rulers to protect the weak and those who seek refuge.
Control of Desires: For householders, controlling desires, especially for wealth, is crucial. Wealth is seen as temporary, and its accumulation should be directed towards good deeds. The analogy of the bee, which gathers nectar but is eventually trapped by its own hoard, illustrates the danger of excessive accumulation.
The Nature of Desires: Natural desires like thirst and hunger can be satisfied, but the craving for possessions is artificial and insatiable, as stated by Dandamis to Alexander the Great.

The Superior Seeker:

Renunciation of Possessions: Jain ascetics (Digambara Munis) achieve superior non-violence and peace by renouncing all possessions.
The Wisdom of Renunciation: The text cites Socrates' wisdom: "The fewer are our wants, the more we resemble gods." This highlights that reducing desires leads to greater divinity.
The Growing Gap and the Solution: The widening gap between the rich and the poor in the modern, materialistic world is seen as a cause of escalating violence. Lord Mahavir's teachings on limited possessions and the voluntary use of excess wealth for good causes are presented as the solution.
The Warning to Builders: Kabir's verse is used to warn modern builders of colossal structures about the impermanence of their creations and the ephemeral nature of life.
The Truth of Impermanence: The text emphasizes that bodies and wealth are impermanent, and death is always near, thus stressing the importance of collecting spiritual merit.
The Scales of Desire: The analogy of the scales, where a desire-filled person descends and a desire-less person ascends, illustrates the consequences of attachment.
The Nature of Truth and Syadvada: The text introduces the Jain concept of "Syadvada," which acknowledges that truth is multifaceted and that different perspectives hold different aspects of the truth. It quotes Mahatma Gandhi's appreciation for this principle.
The Soul as Divine: The soul is presented as inherently divine (Paramatma). It becomes worldly due to karma but can regain its true divine nature by knowing itself. This is likened to the confluence of devotion, knowledge, and detachment.
The Three Pillars of Liberation: Samyagdarshan (right faith), Samyagjnana (right knowledge), and Samyagcharitra (right conduct) are identified as the path to liberation. These are further described as self-reverence, self-knowledge, and self-control, which lead to ultimate power.
The Call for Compassion and Friendship: The final message from Lord Mahavir is a call to grant fearlessness to all beings, to foster unblemished friendship, and to see the entire universe and all living beings as oneself.