Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

Page 58

Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
on the part of each contending person or party, for the other person or party. had not President Regan and President Gorbachcv, Heads of two great world power-blocks, having different ideologies, met for summit-talks in their Capitals and discussed issues extending regard and consideration for each others views, the world would have heavily suffered from the catestrophe of heaps of the medium-range nuclear weapons by this time.
Pt.K.C.Shastri thinks that anekanta was born to avoid himsaviolence or to hush up trouble of himsā on the plane of thought, deliberation or discussion. This amounts to saying that to develop anekānta-drsti - non-absolutistic attitude, one has to develop ahimsaka-drsti -non-violent's attiude, which is based on samatā - equality. Perhaps on this ground the Samana- suttam stales13 : In the world of thought the visible form of ahimsā is enakānta.
One who is not violent, would also be non-absolutistic; and one who possesses non-absolutistic attitude, would also be nonviolent.
The significance and efficacy of all such reflections, views and opinions regarding the doctrine of anekānta have stood the crucial test, even in modern days, at the hands of great thinkers like Gandhji. To clucidate this point, I would just reproduce here my own observations presented elsewhere in a similar context!4:
Gandhiji's experiments with non-violence and truth, also comprised the application of non-absolutistic view (anckanta- drsti), for without it, it is hardly possible to reach truth, which is always non-absolute and many-sided. He did apply it to situations in relevant contexts : He often accepted offers of dialogues and deliberations with the authorities of the British regime with the purpose of knowing their own points of view and with that of giving them chances to reconsider his own carlier assertions on paricular issues. He had the same attitude towards his colleagues and leaders of other political organizations in India. On reasonable occasions even he did not hesitate to step back a little and strike
a compromise with the opposite person or group on certain