I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 50

I AM MAHĀVĪRA
view is 'also' true. All other views are, thus, 'also' true. Thus, if we understand this point, that if the term 'only' is substituted by the term 'also', all disputes and quarrels may subside."
"All the disputes arise due to the absolutistic view in terms of the 'only' view. We should adopt poly-viewistic standpoint. This leads to widen our minds and hearts. When our intellect is liberal, our knowledge will be going towards totality of truth. The knowerin-full only can lead the society to be happy and prosperous.
A similar point was also raised by the king Śrenika of Rajagṛha. He narrated an academic dispute between an eternalist and a non-eternalist pundit. He also told me another dispute between a dualist and non-dualist. Each group committed serious offences like hitting one's head and adultery as per their theory. Each of them was proving 'not-guilty' before the court on logical basis.
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The king was disturbed. He came to seek my advice. I advised him to award the death sentence to both the offenders with a grace period of seven days. During this period, the offenders also came to me. They told their story and asked me." Is it that our logic is deceiving us?"
I told them, "It is not the logic which deceives. It is one's own self, which deceives. It creates egotism. When the logic is not utilized in full, it gets practically off the road, we see opposite