Acharya Tulsi
After completing 73 years of my life, I am entering the 74th. Sixty-two of these 73 years have been a pilgrimage of self-control. From the very beginning, self-control has held for me a great attraction. I have lived a life of self—control and have also witnessed its fruition. Self-restraint is useful for all—for the individual, the society, the nation and the world.
Accordingly, the slogan of the Anuvrata movement, was formulated as "Social Discipline through Individual Self—Control". However, the mere shouting of a slogan brings about no change in life. To encourage the practice of self—control in every-day living, a whole year was declared as The Year of Self-Control. Those commending self-control to others, must first control their own immoderation; only then they would be entitled to use slogans. For emphasizing this, another phrase was coined—"Discipline comes with Self-Control", the effort to assimilate these two slogans became a programme for awakening people to their significance. l have great faith in this programme. l strongly feel that various problems of the world can be resolved through moderation.
Self-control is a fundamental value. It is for all times-the past, the present and the future. The safety and progress of the human race is possible only through self-control. Self—restraint is necessary under all circumstances. However, the necessity of it is being felt much acutely this year. Anyone who is sensitive and well-acquainted with the current world situation and wishes to bring about a change in it, must seek to accomplish it through self-control.
Right now, on the one hand, we have the hurricane of violence; on the other hand, we have to cope with the wrath Of Nature. The whirlwind of violence is no mere outward phenomenon; it also rises from within the individual. lf there is no thought of violence in the brain; it will find no opportunity to manifest itself. However, the roots of violence in the mind are getting stronger; these must be exterminated.
Nature is not anybody‘s hand mind. While at some places, we have floods due to excessive rains; at other places, there is not a drop of water to be seen. lt is said that the drought this year is the most terrible drought of the century. ln some areas of Rajasthan, there have been no rain for three to four years running. The country as a whole is in the grip of famine. In this time of hardship, l earnestly hope that our countrymen will specially exercise self-control in their day—to-day living.
Today, when the public life is in complete disarray, and the people are undergoing great suffering and are fear ridden and the future is uncertain, any kind of ostentatious display or grand festivities will be simply out of place. Such extravagances are symbolic of an out dated luxurious mentality. When there is peace and plenty in the land and in the world, at large, the luxurious living of the wealthy may pass unremarked. However, when millions of people are faced with starvation, when even cattle have to go without fodder, and when there is chaos everywhere—any extravagant display, entertainment, or festivity would appear to be highly questionable.
The Jain religion is a religion of self—control, in which renunciation, austerity; moderation and simplicity command a special importance. The solution to the burning problem of the day lies in these. I would, therefore, call upon the entire Jain community and the Terapanthis in particular, to exercise moderation in the organisation of various functions and festivals. This is the crying need of the times. Those who mould themselves to the exigencies of time, accomplish good for themselves, for society and for the country as a whole. Those who ignore the challenge of time are boors. It does not become people living in this age of science and technology to display such boorishness; rather they must exercise intelligence so as to lead the country along the right path.
As in the case of religious functions, moderation and simplicity have an equal relevance on the occasion of weddings and other festivals. Let each individual fully appreciate this relevance and combat and discard the out dated traditional values and adopt moderation and self-restraint as the sole criterion for a happy and prosperou
