Acharya Tulsi
Man is the most important being in this world. It is difficult to say when man first appeared on this earth. But today having reached the number of 5 billion, he is fighting the battle to establish his identity. Human race is one and indivisible, but all men do not possess similar temperament. The royal Saint Bhartrihari has discussed four types of men-virtuous men, ordinary men, demonic men and nondescript men. Virtuous men are those who consider their own interests secondary and promote the interests of others. Those who, while working in their own interests, are also keen to serve the interests of others are ordinary men. Those who trample over the interests of others in order to promote their own interests are demonic men. But who are those men who, for no reason, harm the interests of others? For them, we cannot find any adjective at all. That is why they can be called nondescript.
The aim of anuvrat is to make man virtuous. I often say in my congregation meetings that whether or not you embrace Jainism, you must certainly become good men. You must become good men, virtuous men. Trampling over somebody's interests does not make human life meaningful. What are all the terrorists around the world doing? Their sole purpose is to harm the interests of other people. Otherwise, why should they abduct innocent people? Why should they demand lakhs and millions of rupees as ransom? Why should they kidnap innocent children? And when they do not get the ransom money, why should they brutally kill those children? These are some of the questions whose answers have been lost in deep silence.
Terrorists are openly violent. But there is not dearth in the world of those people who resort to indirect violence. Does a poison pill, when sugar-coated, cease to be poisonous? Do violent feelings become non-violent merely by changing their direction? Communalism is a very fertile ground in every way for cultivating the seeds of violence. The results of the fruits grown on the poison tree of communalism show themselves in violent form. If the feeling of touch ability and untouchability is not the expression of violence growing in the minds of men, what else is it? The culture of intoxicating drinks and drugs is the mother of many other crimes, apart from violence. The fever of violence during elections is becoming increasingly incurable. It is not possible for worldly people or householders to keep away from violence necessary for livelihood. But is the excessive ' draining of natural resources not unnecessary violence? What kind of non-violence results from economic corruption? These newer and newer faces of violence are so terrifying that because of them there is a growing feeling of insecurity and uncertainty in the country.
In the midst of this dense darkness of violence people are fear-stricken. As they step out of the house in the morning, they doubt whether they would be able to return home safely in the evening. In the midst of this darkness, if there is any bright lamp, it is the awareness of the resolve, awareness of vows.
Vows are the vital element of Indian culture. There is a difference between a vow and a law. Law is imposed by ruling authority, while vow is self imposed. When a law is broken a person does not feel remorse. If one is frightened to defy law it is because of the fear of consequences or punishment. But when a vow or resolve is broken, the person becomes remorseful and he cannot live in peace till he does agree to atone to it. That is why I have linked the word with vow in my mission. This anuvrat mission which is for the welfare of common people is nothing but an endeavour to make man into a good man, virtuous man.
