Fundamental of Jainism

Author(s): Prithviraj Jain
Publisher: Prithviraj Jain

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Syadrivada aims at harmonizing seemingly discordant doctrines and teaches us toleration as well as intellectual freedom. Dr. S. C. Chaterjee and Dr. D. M. Datta have pointed out the beneficial effects of the yadavada theory:
: The principle underlying Syadavada makes Jaina thinkers catholic in their cutlook.' They entertain and accept the views of other philosophers as different possible versions of the universe from different points of view. The only thing that the Jainas dislike in other thinkers is their dogmatic claim that they alone are in the right. This claim amounts to the fallacy of exclusive predication (Ekantavadal. Against such a fallacy of philosophical speculation a protest has been raised recently in America by the Neo-realists, who have called it the fallacy of exclusive particularity. But no Western or Eastern philosopher has so earnestly tried to avoid this error in practice as the Jainas have done."
Turning to Jain ethics, the summum bonum of the Jain religion is the attainment of salvation or Moksha, which means freedom for ever from an endless circle of births and deaths in the various forms of gods, human beings, animals or infernal beings. This freedom is gained through one's own steady and strenuous striving. The path leading to this salvation consists of right vision or faith, right knowledge and right conduct.10
The bondage of the soul from times immemorial is regarded as real, although the soul is inherently perfect and pure and can remove all obstacles and attain perfect illumination. For this purpose the soul
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9 An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, p. 93. 10 Tattrarthadhigama Sytra, I. 1.
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