Ethnicity and Religious Heritage

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: T U Mehta

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Indian Ethnicity and Religious Heritage
Syad vad is the consequence of Nayavad. The grammatical meaning of the word Sayd is "perhaps" but in Jain terminology it is used to suggest a possibility. Moreover, Syadvad emphasizes the fact that truth about an object or an idea is related to many factors including the factors such as time, space, shape and intention. It is also related to education, culture and the special circumstances in which the person who is to judge is placed.
Thus the net effect of Nayavad and Syadvad is to increase understanding and power of tolerane. In other words it introduces and element of Ahimsa even at the thinking stage.
These are the basic features on which the whole edifice of Jain philosophy is constructed. There are many other important points such as the Jain theories of Knowledge, Leshyas, Meditation, Bhavana, Ratnatrayi etc. reference to which can be made if and when necessary during further discussion.