Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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Tolerance: Jainism since its inception believes in and preaches harmony and tolerance. It has been tolerant and respectful towards other faiths and religious ideologies through out of its history of existence. Jainism according to its famous doctrine of Non-absolutism, which is also a way of synthesis, believes that to eradicate the conflicts and establish harmony, to develop tolerant outlook is very necessary.
Causes of intolerance: Among the causes that generate fanaticism and intolerance, the blind faith is prime one. It results from the passionate attachment and hence uncritical or unexamining outlook. Attachment (mūrchā) according to Jainism is the cause of bondage. It causes perverse attitude. In Jainism various types of attachment are enumerated. Among them Darśanamoha/drstirāga (blind faith), due to its very nature has been reckoned paramount'. It is considered as a central element in intolerance. It leads one's attitude towards a strong bias for one's own and against others. Non-attachment is therefore considered as pre-condition for the right attitude or perception. A perverse and hence defiled attitude renders it impossible to view the things rightly just as a person wearing colored glasses or suffering from jaundice is unable to see the true color of the objects as they are. Attachment and aversion are the two great enemies of philosophical thinking. Truth can reveal itself to impartial thinkers. 11
Jainism holds that the uncritical outlook and even pious attachment towards the prophet, the path and the scripture is also a hindrance to a seeker of truth and aspirant of perfection. Attachment results in blind faith and superstitions and repulsion consequences into intolerant conduct. Gautama, a chief disciple of Lord Mahāvīra, on account of his pious attachment towards Mahāvīra, failed to attain omniscience in the life time of Mahāvīra. He could attain omniscience only after detachment from Mahāvīra. 12
11 Dr. Nathmal Tatia, Studies in Jain Philosophy, PV, Varanasi, 1958, p.22 12 (a) Bhagavati, Abhayadeva Vrtti, Rishabhadeva Kesarimal, Ratlam, 1917 14/7 p. 1188
(b) mukkhamagga pavannānas sineho vajjasimkhalā vīre jīvamtāye jão Goyama jam na kevali. Kalpasūtra Tikā Ed. by Vinayavijayji, 127, p. 130
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
