Vedanta - Democracy is Freedom
ACHARYA ROOPCHANDER
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Democracy has been described as government “by the people, for the people and of the people“. It upholds freedom, equality and coexistence and has existed in this form for more than 2,000 years.Lord Mahavira was born some 2,600 years ago in Vaishali, a republic administered by the Licchavis. Lord Buddha had once told Varshkar, the despotic king Bimbisara's minister, that as long as the democratic set-up of the Licchavis went on smoothly , they would be invincible. Varshkar reportedly created differences among the Licchavis and polluted the democratic set-up that led to their defeat.
Exposure to the Licchavis' direct democracy left a deep impression upon Mahavi ra. Which, in turn, led to his belief in `democratis ing god'. He rejected the idea that god held absolute power.
His god is not a creator, dominator and moderator of the universe, but only a soul freed from the trammels of karma. So, according to Mahavira, god is within the reach of all who make the effort to attain perfection, regardless of our differences.
The first condition of democracy is freedom: not freedom from discipline or absence of a system, but a system not imposed by someone. Freedom, in this sense, means self-discipline. It also meant believing that no one is absolutely right or absolutely wrong.
We might be right from our viewpoint and our opponents from theirs. Hence, we should not be intolerant towards the thoughts of others. Along with the idea of non-violence, these principles make up the life-source of democracy .
Exposure to the Licchavis' direct democracy left a deep impression upon Mahavi ra. Which, in turn, led to his belief in `democratis ing god'. He rejected the idea that god held absolute power.
His god is not a creator, dominator and moderator of the universe, but only a soul freed from the trammels of karma. So, according to Mahavira, god is within the reach of all who make the effort to attain perfection, regardless of our differences.
The first condition of democracy is freedom: not freedom from discipline or absence of a system, but a system not imposed by someone. Freedom, in this sense, means self-discipline. It also meant believing that no one is absolutely right or absolutely wrong.
We might be right from our viewpoint and our opponents from theirs. Hence, we should not be intolerant towards the thoughts of others. Along with the idea of non-violence, these principles make up the life-source of democracy .
