Jain Journal 2006 10 No 04

SR No.: 520264
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 16

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a well-known Jaina philosopher of Tamilnadu, says that there are different persons, their different activities or karmas and different levels or capacities, so one should not indulge in rivalries neither with other sects nor one's own sect.25
Haribhadra also remarks that the diversity in the teachings of the sages is due to the diversity in the levels of their disciples or the diversity in standpoints adopted by the sages or the diversity in the period of time when they were preached or it is only an apparent diversity. Just as a physician prescirbes medicine according to the nature of a patient, his illness and the climate, so is the case with diversity of religious teachings. So far as diversity in time, place, levels and understanding of disciples is inevitable, variety in religous ideologies and practices is essential. The only way to remove the religious as well as other conflicts is to develop a tolerant outlook and to establish harmony among different faiths, ideologies and cultures.
Nationalism vs Human Solidarity :
Thus, in Jainism, unity means a co-operative co-existence of the constituents in an organic whole. So far as the problem of national integration is concerned, the Jainas support it theoritically as well as practically. In the Sthānanga we have a mention of kuladharma, grāmadharma and rastradharam. i.e. the duties pertaining to the family, the township and the nation." They also favour that if necessary the interests of the individual, the family and the township should be sacrificed for the common and greater good of the nation. For them, the concept of human solidarity has more importance than the concept of nationality. They are determined that for the solidarity and the greater good of mankind as a whole, we must get rid of the narrower concepts such as regionalism and even nationalism. If viewed from the whole mankind, nationalism is also a narrower outlook and a hindrance to human solidarity, so the mankind should get rid of the narrower concepts and should think of the greater good of mankind as a whole.
25.
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLI, NO. 2 OCTOBER. 2006
26.
27.
Niyamasara, 155
Yoga drṣṭisamuccaya, 133 x 137
Sthaṇāngasūtra 10/760