________________
Fatless Cream and Decaffeinated Coffee
... a layman's understanding of Anekanta
-- Sudhamahi Regunathan
I have often found it happening to me that when I learn a new word, I come across it many times soon after. It is the brain's way of pointing out the word and reinforcing the new lesson. In a somewhat similar fashion I have been coming across the idea of Anekanta in whatever I read, experience. May I add that these quotes or experiences are to be understood relative to the discussion and not in terms of the concepts of relativity or polar identity in the different religions, which may differ.
In a lighter vein, in the hotel room in San Rafael, against the open skies and silhouetted mountains I found myself faced with alternatives like cream without fat and decaffeinated coffee. They were opposites that seemed so strange when they co-existed and yet they did! If I could understand and believe that, surely I could believe in the co-existence of opposites!
Recently, I read a book called Tuesdays with Morrie. It is an international bestseller and has been so for some time now. It talks of a man who chances to watch a television programme featuring his dear professor who is now consciously going through the process of dying. Mitch then traces out Morrie, the professor, and while with him reflects on his dreams when he was still a fledgling with his teacher. Mentally he compares it to his life as it has been since. A conversation between the two of them goes like this:
gee uzul Iris - FHER, 2001 C
A
103
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
