________________
Anekāntika outlook is not only good for our day-today life, but it also has a great intellectual appeal. Post-modernism and its related theory of post-structuralism widely used in literacy criticism are of very recent origin. Post-modernism suggests that every field of ideas is a field of contending forces. 10 Post-modernism emphasizes that no representation can capture the subject completely and that it is only a representation. There appears, in this thesis a striking similarly to Buddhist view of momentariness or Ķjusūtra naya, but definitely throws light on differences and tolerance of differences. As such, it echoes an anekāntika approach.
Concept similar to anekānta can be seen in other religions and philosophies of the world. Take for instance the following: Išāvāsya Upanişadît describes ātman as a substance which moves and does not move, which is near and far and which is inside and outside. In spite of being absolutistic, Vedānta reflects relativism in its philosophy of explaining reality from three standpoints and in three stages viz. prātibhāsika, Vyāvahārika and pārmārthika. Mahābhārata exhorts people by saying, 'Regard all religious faiths with reverence and ponder their teachings but do not surrender your judgement'. Buddhist philosophy of vibhajyavādal2 and madhyama-mārga also reflects the tone of anekānta. Buddha himself believed in vibhajyavāda and not in Ekāntavāda. He rejected both 'asti' and 'nasti' and emphasized that he believed in the middle path. Quran suggests, 'to you religion and to me time.' This is truly the 'live and let live' philosophy of religion.
In conclusion, anekāntavāda may help us overcome the one-sided, narrow, dogmatic or fanatical approaches to life and reality, not only at metaphysical, but also at social and familial levels. As such, it can significantly reduce the intellectual chaos and social conflict in the present day life.
Note: This article printed with permission of author, as this article already published in other book.
10 Lawrence E. Cahoone (ed.), Anekantavāda: An Anthology (London: Blackwell Publishers, 1996), P.15. 11 Išāvāsya Upanişad, 5 12 Majjhimanikaya, sutta 99
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 95 of 273
