Acharya Tulsi
Because of scientific and technological developments, man today commands a terrifying power of destruction. But the question is whether he has also got the intelligence to save mankind. "The greatest challenge that we are facing today pertains to the development of faith in humanity." This extract from the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi’s inaugural speech at an international conference, is a witness to the fact that thoughtful and responsible people of the country are very much concerned about saving mankind. It is a relevant and necessary concern. Today, there does not seem to be any work greater than that of saving humanity. Whether man is able to achieve industrial and technical development or not, it is not going to cause much harm to humanity, but if humane values are not properly cultivated, all man’s achievement becomes redundant. If humanity lives, everything else is.shaved. If humanity is destroyed, nothing else would be left. And whatever is left would have no meaning.
That man is the most powerful living being, has been accepted by all religions. But the misfortune of mankind has been that its energy, instead of being utilized in the development of humanity is being employed for its destruction. The energy which had been collected for the security of mankind is now in the Shape of armaments annihilating it. The harvest of compassion growing on the soil of man’s mind affected by cruelty is gradually withering away. This is a felt truth which no sensitive man can deny.
Water is considered to be the source of life. It is a most precious substance, and yet if it reaches a slope, it starts flowing downwards. If the life-giving water chooses to go downwards, what can prevent it? Man today is in a similar position. He commands the greatest power and yet if he becomes his own enemy, and, forgetting all compassion, chooses to be ruthless, who will remonstrate with him?
Lord Mahavir has said, " O Mani what you are killing is you yourself, only you." This eternal truth has either not reached those people—or they have simply ignored it—who are employing their intelligence and power for large—scale destruction of mankind.
All agree that science has made tremendous progress. It is a welcome development. Science has lifted the curtain of many hitherto unknown secrets. But we must not forget that science has the power both to preserve and to destroy. if man chooses to utilize the power of science for the purpose of destruction, science is not to blame.
There is the mythological legend of God presenting man with two paper-packets, and saying, "Here, one of these packets contains money, the other faith. Go, scatter the money abroad, but preserve your faith." The man took the packets. The contents of one he scattered, the other he kept secure. But something went awry. Instead of money, he scattered his integrity, and in place of integrity, he kept his money secure.
This tale is very apt in the context of science. The extraordinary power of science for the preservation of humanity or the human race was forgotten; instead, the terrible power of destruction was let loose. To rectify this perversity, it is necessary to develop the right approach. In destroying the monster of Atom Bomb, a creation of science, Anuvrata has an important role to play. The slogan of every man concerned with saving mankind should be: "Anu Atom Bomb, No; Anuvrata, yes.“
