Gems of Jainism

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

Page 58

Jain Theory and Practice of Anekanta
etc. Since these attributes are relative a person in some respect or comparison may be rich and the same person from different points of views may also be poor. In order to practice anekantavaua, the clarity of these extremes or opposites to be true for the same person or things is very necessary. One should get habituated to take as many examples as possible from daily life to strengthen the clarity.
(3) Acceptance of Ahinsa is the third and very important fundamental way to practice Anekantavada - Pt. Dalsukh Malvania says that the root of Anekantayada is Ahinsa. The very idea of not to hurt the others but to be kind and tolerent to others is the essence of Jainism. The frank, friendly and mutual co-existance is only possible if Ahimsa in our practice is accepted. How can you take note of others or other person's views if you are not kind to them. Ahimsa saves a person from cruel dogmatism, religious fanatism ans psychological egoism; and to save from these all is necessary to have objectivity in its true sense. The others or the opponent person may also be as true and correct in the light of his situation and circumstances as I feel myself. To attack on him with all arguments leading to charges is to hurt him, and hurting (physically, mentally or spiritually) is 'himsa’ - hurting is killing. Where there is an atmosphere of fights, of such disputes and such arguments and counter-arguments there is no peace, no solution. Thus the acceptance of Ahimsa, creating an atmosphere of love and friendliness, developing the power of tolerance and favourable situation of mutual co-existance, all these pave for Anakantavadi approach. Ahimsa in this way proves to be a very fundamental way of applying Anekantavada.
(4) The next fundamental and equally significant way is the 'objectivity'. By objectivity I means to be objective in our approach. Our life is full of events and happenings. Ther are a series of problems and issues we strive to solve or come out of them. The most painful fact about our problems and issues is that almost in all such cases our subjectivity.our prejudices, out partial and onesided conclusion etc. make the problems much more complex than what they actually are. In fact bjectivity is one of the ways that can be developed by a person by practicing it daily in all his fields of experiences and