Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

Page 342

Can Jainism Survive in the 21st Century
313
Learn to see through the Māyā that shrouds clear vision. Permanent bliss is only possible by self-realisation, which comes from within. Therefore, if external objects cannot yield true happiness, why acquire more than is necessary?
Over and above all this, your conduct should be guided by the doctrine of Anekāntavāda. The purpose of the Parliament of World's Religions is captured in this single word Anekāntavāda. It is the theory of Relativity or non-absolutism, which teaches us to realise truth in its varied aspects.
The religions of the world are simply different paths to the same goal. Calling water, l'eau in French, or Maji in Swahili, or Pāni in Hindi, does not change the nature of the water. Similarly, just as different languages have different names for the same water, so, different religions have different names for the same Ultimate Truth. Individual perception of the Ultimate may be different, yet this does not make the Ultimate different. So follow your own religion in earnest, but do not reject any other religion, because by so doing you will be rejecting the Ultimate Truth, which is the goal of your own religion, and hence, indirectly, you will be rejecting your own faith. Two reasonable people can reach opposite but still reasonable conclusions. There are very few things which are manifestly or absolutely wrong, and those which do exist are well-known to us.
Therefore, when we say that something is wrong or right, it is often only relatively wrong or right, i.e. wrong or right according to us. How many times do we actually bother to see the picture from the viewpoint of another. We are often so busy voicing our own opinions, that what other people think is of no consequence to us. This makes us very myopic, selfish and partial in our outlook.
A friend of mine at University who was an atheist, started attending Bible Study groups. After a few lessons, she professed to being a Christian, and as a Christian she decided she could not accept what was preached by the Hindu Philosophy. This sort of bigotry arises only from ignorance, for I have discovered much common ground during my studies of both the Hinduism and Christianity.