Gyandhara

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Saurashtra Kesari Pranguru Jain Philosophical and Literary Research Centre

Page 154

YOXYC ŞII HENRI EXOXO small child is enormous. Bigotry and intolerance are perhaps the greatest enemies of peaceful co-existence and a life dedicated to truth. Course material of religious educational books should be amended or even re-written so as to weed out sectarian and such other elements that are detrimental to peace and wellbeing in the society. The attitude of impressing over the child's mind that the concepts, theories, doctrines and practices etc stated in a particular text are the whole and the only truth should be abandoned by all concerned but particularly by the educationist. The child should be encouraged to explore different alternatives pertaining to a particular topic with an unbiased mind so that s/he may be trained in the art of objective assessment of available inputs to ascertain the truth.
(11) Doubt, non-acceptance of any view without being intellectually convinced about its veracity, rejection of even minor .items mentioned in Jaina scriptures etc. are considered transgression of faith. Hence such tendencies are discouraged and threatened by instigating fear of eternal doom. This obviously demands sheepish mentality accepting whatever is written in the scripture at its face value. Actually, there is a need to discriminate between the core principles of morality, religion and spirituality on the one hand and the ancillary items in the precept. On should certainly emphasise the core and benevolent principles and adhere to them to the highest extent possible while other ideas, practices, etc that have been instituted due to
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