Glimpses of Jainism and Biography of forgotten Hero Virchand Raghavji Gandhi

SR No.: 006757
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pannalal R Shah, Gunvant Barvalia, Kurangi Desai
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 112
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 5 MB

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qualities and modifications (ii) it extends over past, present and future times (iii) it extends over infinite space and (iv) it is simultaneously subjected to origination, destruction and permanence.
It is obvious that, as such, this can be fully comprehended only by omniscience. It cannot be fully manifested by worldly beings that perceive through organs and senses. These senses are indirect means of knowledge and what they comprehend is only partial. Reality possesses infinite variations and attributes of human interpretation. Our knowledge is always incomplete and hence our views are, at best, true only in parts. It is correct that Truth is one only, but the aspects of truth are many. One must be tolerant towards other viewpoints. In life, it is important to accept the theory of multidimensional approach. An illustration may explain this. Two blind men are near an elephant. A person near its foot very truthfully declares the elephant to be like a column. A person near its tail equally truthfully declares it to be like a rope. Who is right? Both of them are right from their vintage point and both are wrong from the other's vintage point. Now if you change the positions of each of the men so that the man who originally was at tail is now at the foot. The same person now declares the elephant to be a column. Thus the "reality" of the elephant is infinite (Aneka) resulting in infinite viewpoints (Anekant). The philosophy of multiplicity of truth is Anekantvand.
That is why Jainism points to the fact that reality may be comprehended from different angles. An attempt to comprehend anything from a particular viewpoint is called "Naya" (mode of expressing things). A system of describing reality from different points of view is called "Nayavada" (doctrine of Naya). Jain philosophers describe a system of classification and various Naya in those classes. Nayavada is a reminder to all those who assert that their system is
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