Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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UTILITY OF SYĀDVĀDA IN SOCIETY
Syādvāda has been successfully applied in the field of philosophy. Can it be useful in our social life as well?
Man has intelligence and it inspires thoughts, beliefs and opinions. He uses his intelligence for selfish motives and forms beliefs and thoughts to serve his self-interest. This is the inherent nature of all men. The attitude of a group of people is guided with that of individuals forming that group. When there is a difference of opinion between two individuals they do not try for a compromise. Instead of this, driven by their conceit, they call their own view to be true and that of the other to be false. Each one of them becomes dogmatic about his personal views. Each expects that the other should accept his statement and opinion. And each one is not prepared to compromise his dogma and accept others view. As a consequence a debate ensues and each one of them is filled with bitterness. The difference of opinion turns from academic to personal and flowers into antagonism. The root cause of all debates, arguments, and legal disputes is prejudice and absence of a compromising attitude.
When these personal differences turn into a mass movement the energy, wisdom, wealth and all other resources of the group are steered towards promotion and spread of the beliefs and ideology of the sect, thrusting these on others, and uprooting beliefs and ideologies of other sects. The reach of an individual's selfishness is very wide. It influences class, sect, state, and country. These sectarian differences inspire chauvinism and hunger for political power that finally leads to exploitation of people. These sects sprout out of ideologies, principles and corridors of power. The struggle for status, political power, territorial dominion, and continued exploitation are the outcome of these ideologies, principles, and political systems. Ideological differences give rise to a variety of struggles including wars. We everyday witness clashes and wars between various classes, castes, communities, states and countries caused by sectarian dogmas, selfishness, and antagonism. But we have failed to invent a system aimed at stopping bloodshed and inspiring mutual goodwill and friendship, thereby ensuring acceptance of coexistence of diverse ideologies. This is a big question mark before the intellectual eminence of mankind.
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