JAINA Convention 2003 07 Cincinnati OH

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 83

weapons, and controlling terrorism, which are the great threats to human race in the contemporary times. Religious tolerance, interfaith dialog, and knowing and respecting the views of other religions are the inevitable demands of our planet today.
Based on the foundation of non-violence and non-absolutism, the tolerance in Jainism never inspires Jains to be offensive to other religions or people. That is why the name of Jains has never been in the history of violence caused in the name of religion. This is the greatest contribution of Lord Mahavir and Jainism toward peaceful coexistence and goodwill toward all people and religions, fa H. H. Atmanandji (Formerly, Dr. Mukund V Soneji) is a modern day saint providing spiritual guidance as the founder-head of Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Koba, Gujarar, India. Trained as a physician in India and in U.K., he renounced his medical practice to join the spiritual world; in which he was interested since childhood. He has authored about 35 books in Gujarati, Hindi and English.
Darshan-Samuchchaya of Acharya Shri Haribhadrasuri, which has been widely acclaimed as a great work in Indian philosophical thought. The practical application of this theory of "multifaceted truth" has been practiced by the Jains in their day-to-day life. It has given them a unique ability to have peaceful co-existence and their recognition as a peace-loving community in all continents of the world.
Among the great proponents of this theory are several famous dignitaries, both ancient and modern. Haribhadrasuri, Hemchandracharya, Anandghanji, Shrimad Rajchandra, Santbalji, Vijay Vallabhsuri, Jinedra Varniji, and Vidyanandji are a few important examples of this width of vision, which they put in practice.
The training of tolerance in Jain society is imparted even at individual level right from the childhood by regular visits to temples, fasting, strict vegetarianism, non-addiction, regular meditation (Samayik), and other practices in daily life.
Jains do not follow the path of compulsory religious conversion. They do not have any contrivance or agency, which inducts or compels others for religious conversion.
The religious tolerance among Jains is evidenced by the fact that they have successfully survived as an independent philosophical and architectural entity for about 3,000 years despite being a small minority among the composite Indian mosaic. They always had good relations with the rulers at local and central levels. From time to time, they have made adjustments in the external methods, modes, and instruments of rituals. This was possibly due to the visionary religious and social leadership of the Jains who made appropriate compromises by following the principle of religious tolerance. Relevance to Contemporary Problems
More and more people are accepting the importance of non-violence and tolerance all over the world for world peace, non-proliferation of
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