Gems of Jainism

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

Page 57

Gems of Jainism
Needless to say that the truth of anékāntavāda and its practice has also anék ( many ) ways. There are ways suggested in Jain scriptures as we have seen Lord Mahavira's suggestions, also are the ways discussed by many great scholars. Considering the conflicts of ideals and openions of individuals, the moral conduct of the people and social, religious and political atmosphere of today ; in short, considering the complexity of life today, the following five ways to apply anekantavada can also be suggested. They are :
(1) Knowledge of Truth and Reality (2) Clarity about the inter-relationships of the extremes or
paradoxes.
Acceptance of Ahinsā in its Totality (4) Objectivity (5) Consciousness - awarness
Let us see each of the above ways in detail so as to be clear about it. (1). Leaving here all the big metaphisical or ontological discussions about Appearance and Reality or Facts & Truth, I wish one should know that our day-to-day routine is full of activities which could be broadly classified as Mental Activities, “Physical Activities, and Verbal or Speech Activities (Mansik, Kayik aur Vachik Karm). The substance of all these activities is material. According to Jainism even the Jiv is also a matter, or dravya i.e. matter has multi-faced characteristics. Matter has infinite attributes which, though matter is constant, change. The Truth or Reality, in our day-to-day life is with reference to a thing or person or event or idea. Such Truth when we descibe can only be Absolute if our description covers all the infinite probable positions. This is not possible and therefore, we should know that what we consider to be true or real is so only with reference to one or some aspects and not wholly or absolutely true.
(2) From the above follows the clearity regarding the extremes oor paradoxes. We have a wrong notion that extremes & opposites
cannot be applicable to one and the same. We always think rich and poor cannot be applied to some one person, or short and long