Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 16

(9)
Eyante nirvekkhe no sijjhai viviha bhavagam
dabbam, Tam taha va aneyamta idi bujjhaha siya
aneyantam.
"If one ignores the various other attributes of a substance and sticks to one aspect only, one will never realise the truth of it. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp fully well the significance and meaning of Anekanta, as defined by the prefix syad".
The principle of Anekanta shows us how to realise truth in its varied aspects and thereby understand the viewpoints of others. Every creature is self-centred; but when one possesses the knowledge or Anekanta, one begins to appreciate the other man's point of view also. The philosophy of Lord Mahavira makes the Jain catholic in his outlook and ever ready to understand the true nature of other systems. With the enlightened wisdom of Angkanta, Haribhadra (98 A.D.), the famous Jain philosopher, said that Lord Mahavira was not "my friend" and others were not “my foes ", that he was not biased in favour of Mahavira and that he felt no hatred for Kapila (the founder of the Sankhya philosophy) and other philosophers; on the contrary, he was desirous of accepting whatever doctrine was true.