________________
-YATEENDRASURI SMARAK GRANTH - As Dasgupta states -
as the momentous decision came, the parents were
shocked, unhappy, baffled. ...... nothing could be affirmed abso
Now, the whole position came to this. The lutely, as all affirmetions were true only under cer
younger son was firm on his decision though he tain limitations. "26
sought the consent of his parents for his new life and,
and initiation.
The mother, through extreme, emotional at.....................all affirmations are true of a thing
tachment was not inclined to give her consent, only in a certain limited sense. All things (vastu)
though she was very much religious. thus possess an infinite number of qualities (Anekadharmatmakam Vastu) each of which can:
The father had, besides emotional attachment, only be affirmed in a particular sense. Such an or
several worldly and practical considerations in not dinary thing as a jug will be found to be the obiect giving consent. of an infinite number of quailities from infinite points The elder son has his own views partly lovof view, which are all true in certain restricted ing and partly selfish and he suggested that the senses and not absolutely". 27
parents give their consent. and.. "
The grant parents looked upon this as grand
opportunity to win laurels in the society, to win pres"Thus in some relation or other, anything may tige. They advised the parent of the boy to give their be affirmed of any other, thing, and again in other consent willingly and illingly, and raise the status relations, the very same thing cannot be affirmed of the family high. of it. The different standpoints from which, things. There was a friend of the younger brother who (though possessed of infinite determinations) can advised initiation into monk-hood only after proper be spoken of as possessing this or that quality or maturity and after passing through mundane life as appearing in relation to this or that, are techni- for a few years. cally called Naya !"
Another friend stongly advised the parents
not to give consent, but to get him married to his Application
sister who desired so. Let us now take a few glaring example
Thus, truth is to be viewed at from several whereby we can see how Anekantvada can be
angles by the parents to arrive at a decision whether applied in life. The First example that we take is
or not to give their consent. They are of open that from family life. There is, say, the case of a fam
hearted and give weight to all the opinions. ily of four-husband, wife and two sons. The sons
Now there are several angles of vision from are brough up well, highly educated and the par
which the proposal is being viewed and every anents sacrificed lots for the sons with the intention
gle of vision is based on some consideration or of imparting good cultural heritage, education and settled life to them. Then comes the question of their
another. The whole proposal is in a fix and the relacareer. Whatever the ambitions of the parents the
tives suggest other alternatives also. All want to
come to a postive decision which also reflects elder son resolves to take up his fathers business and the younger one states that he wants to be
upon the proposal of the younger son and its concome a Jain Sadhu. For years tha parents had seen
sequences. A sincere attempt is there on part of all that their younger son had little interest in worldly
to come to a unanimous decision in which the atlairs and he was getting more and more leaning
visioning by all shall prevent conflicts the towards Dharma. Parents were themselves reli
visionings of all should come together because the
question is to be solved, as far as possible, to the gious and so, for years they encouraged him. But 44
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