Book Title: Applied Philosophy of Anekanta
Author(s): Shashiprajna Samni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

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Page 182
________________ towards others. Due to this, many conflicts and violence take place. Scientific analysis of conflict has become a major feature of contemporary society. In recent times political, racial, individual, social, structural, ethnic, communal violence especially cultural and religious violence have caused much concern and anxiety to the collective consciousness of the people. The main cause of all sorts of conflicts is : (i) absence of communication, (ii) Imposition of decision, (iii) Absolute feeling of 'the other', (iv) Superiority complex. Various steps by different social reformers have been undertaken in order to control such conflicts and violence. In 20th century Gandhi and Ācārya Tulsi really endeavored for this. Gandhi even gave the principles such as: (a) Recognition of basic equality of all, (b) Faith in the goodness of the other, (c) Love for the opposser.' Gandhiji negotiated even with the opponents believing that even the worst enemy has some truth to which the other party has to listen to. In this field ,Inter-cultural dialogue can provide the best measures to have a peaceful world. In the presentera, many inter-cultural, inter-religious, and intrareligious dialogues are being organized. These dialogues are leading towards conflict resolution through Jain doctrine of anekāntavāda. Anekānta is not merely a metaphysical concept, but it is practically a relevant concept. It is a philosophy of coexistence in the words of Mahaprajña, "A kind of intellectual non-violence, which changes the absolutistic framework of the brain.” It says everything is relative and multi-dimensional having inbuilt co-existence of opposites.” Claude Levi Strauss rightly said that a word is meaningful because of its binary 'other' word. Thus the 'light' and the 'dark' words give meaning to each other by a binary relation. A single word by itself has no T.K. John. Roots of Conflicts, Conflicts Resolution Through Non-violence. Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, 1990, pp. 88-89. 159

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