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Jainism in a Global Perspective
truth as such. Truth and reality, to be clearly understood has to be seen in a relative context in all its manifold aspects and from multiple angles. An absolutist approach tends to ignore overall reality in its comprehensive perspective. It is said that many roads lead to Rome.
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Aekāntavāda - this Jaina doctrine is based on scientific reasoning and logic and is imbued at the same time with the approach of accommodation and respect for differing points of view, it is not enough how an individual perceives a problem, situation or relationship. It is equally important to know what is means to others concerned and how they view it. That will give a truly total picture of given reality.
Anekāntvāda, the doctrine of manifold aspects makes for a greater degree of tolerance and give and take in the society, removes rigidity of approach, facilitates rational objective analysis and helps in eliminating subjective approach. This is what the contemporary world needs for tackling complex global and national problems.
This Jaina approach is conductive to strengthening co-operative, co-existence, harmony, equanimity and understanding in social interaction and dealings.
The doctrine of relativity syädvāda in thinking is not a Jaina religious prescription, but a significant scientific contribution of Jainism to sociology in the field of logic and reasoning.
Ahekāntavāda helps to promote an integrated and wholesome perspective with considerable openness for the consideration of the merits of an issue of a problem. It makes for democratisation in thinking, analysis and solution-search. It curbs ego-centric tendency which more often than not complicates solution of intricate, social, national or international problems.
In the rapidly changing world of today, relativity of thinking can provide a very dynamic and vibrant approach for harmonising apparently conflicting view points, maximising agreement at highest common denominator levels, and discovering fundamental unity of purpose in the usefully applied to bilateral as well as multinational issues in a wide variety of situations and circumstances.
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