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right knowledge and right conduct becomes holy".75 Truth, it is said, does not only pertain to our faculty of speech but to mind and body as well.76
The nature of Truth can be understood by having a clear idea of falsehood. "Falsehood is that which originates from saying 'Asat', and not from 'Sat' or reality." Asat' may mean three things- Firstly, to speak about that which is not; secondly, to speak out something by changing and manipulating the facts; and lastly, to speak out something with a wrong intention. This wrong intention emanates from our tainted emotions (anger, arrogance, deceit and greed) clubbed as selfish tendencies or attachment and feeling of hatred. A speech is false when spoken with any of these motives.
Anekantavada in Society
We see tremendous diversity in the society we live in, be it at community- neighbours-city-state- country levels or even the world at large level. In our own family we see children, adults, of different sex, different education and economic levels and above all objectives continuously changing. So diversity is a fact of life and corresponds to the definition of reality by Jains. Like spiritual progress, the society constituted by its individual members is also continuously aspiring to move up the scale of perfection for all of its members in terms of peace and harmony, better infrastructure for health, education, amusement, security, personal liberties, interactions within and outside the society and realizing everyone's full potential. This quest cannot be based on the basis of the permanent only and hence change is to be affected. The most important change needed is the change in personal belief/s as they signify selfishness, if taken independently, and lack concern for the welfare of others. This is explained beautifully by Samantbhadra through the example of a milkmaid churning the curd to take butter out. He says the milkmaid has to take one hand front and keep the other back and then bring the other hand in front and take the earlier front hand back. Then only she can churn the curd to take butter out.
Pg.252 | Gandhi & Jainism
