Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 034278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 137
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision severe drought conditions. A large number of living species have already been destroyed and extinct, while a few others are on way to annihilation, it is necessary to pay attention to what the Jain religion says. The Jain monks do not eat green or fresh vegetables on particular days. This shows how the Jain monks are deeply wedded to ecological balance.
Truth has been given a significant and a unique place in the Jain philosophy. It enjoys the second most important position as a vow. The Prashna Vyakaran says, 'Truth is God.' The Acharang sutra says, 'One who stands solidly for truth in his life will conquer even death.' This is experienced by man within himself. The entire life of Mahavira is a testimony of his rich experiences. He tells his disciples that they need not consider him the most knowlegeable person in the world. Anyone, who accomplishes his objectives, can attain the highest position of knowledge. Even Bhagwan Mahavira himself had attained the highest position after he had passed through a cycle of 27 lives and also twelve and half years of penance.
What more can be said of a person who has been wedded to truth ? Even fire cannot burn him, nor can waterpools drown
Towards A Truly Global Society based approach carries with it equality, tolerance, synthesis and the feeling of coexistence. It reflects a consistent and on going effort in search of truth.
When one looks at things from different angles and when one locates an element of truth in everything, it leads one to Anekant i.e. many sided or many faceted approach. Not that 'what I say is the only and the ultimate truth'; but 'what is truth is mine' is the correct approach. One should not be rigid and dogmatic towards one's own approach, but one should also be generous enough to concede that what others perceive may also have an element of truth. Thus, the philosophy of Anekant perceives an all sided view and is based on equality, tolerance, assimilation and co-existence. It is the right approach for reaching the truth. Anekant approaches everything relatively and tries to find the truth in every situation. In the life of Bhagwan Mahavira, many instances can be found where 'what is truth is mine' has been accepted. He had even persuaded Gautam, his most learned colleague to apologise to Shravak Anand.
During Mahavira's time, there were many controversies and many opinions expressed. Everyone tried to dispute the opinions of others so that one can prove that what one says is the only truth. But, Bhagwan Mahavira showed the path - accommodation of others' views rather than to refute others' views. He appealed to disciples to become Anekanti in place of Ekanti. Only when you will do this, that you will be able to percieve truth in its most clear and beautiful form. In this way he tried to fight the war that was raged between various opposing opinions, ideologies and one's own understandings. To bring home the truth behind what he was saying, he gave
him.
The Jain philosophy has extensively thought of truth and righteousness in human life. 'What I pronounce is the truth' has never been its approach. When one takes such an extreme, sectarian and rigid attitude, it is transformed into one kind of violence. It has a broad-based attitude in which it is conceded that there can be an element of truth even in what others have to say. Ultimately, truth is relative. What you visualise as truth may carry your own conviction. Similarly, what others visualise as truth may be allowed to carry their convictions, such a broad
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