JAINA Convention 2007 07 Edison NJ

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

Page 75

The best place to start working toward peace is from a feeling of respect and
acceptance. If we respect ourselves
and others, then naturally
peace will evolve
in 2005. One particularly memorable one was given in response to a student's question. One of the scholars had asked what a Jain would do if asked a question in which the honest answer would result in violence.
She was answered by one of the lecturers with a story about a monk who was in meditation at a fork in a road. The monk observed a cow pass him. Shortly after, a butcher approached the monk and asked which direction the cow had gone. The monk sat quietly for a moment, then smiled at the butcher and returned to his meditation. If the monk had told the butcher where the cow had gone, it would have led to violence. If he had lied he would have broken a Mahavrat. The monk was able to elegantly avoid violence and lying by a powerful third option that most people forget is an ever-present option: silence.
The best place to start working toward peace is from a feeling of respect and acceptance. If we respect ourselves and others, then naturally peace will evolve. It does not matter if one is loving all beings for their jivas within, recognizing that each jiva at its finest is capable of liberation, or if we are loving each being because we view them as God's creation and thereby divine. Regardless of which specific viewpoint one subscribes to, the message remains the same. Coming from a place of respect, acceptance and love directs one toward peace. This also helps us deal with another concern, namely, the wounds of the environment. All of nature is also composed of jives, according to the Jains, or can be viewed as God's creations from the Jewish and Christian perspective. If we actually live our beliefs and extend love, we would not continue to hurt the environment in the multitude of ways it is currently being scarred. Protecting and restoring the environment loops us back toward the starting point, love of self. If we do not save the environment then we kill ourselves as well because we depend upon it for our very survival.
The majority of this short article has been using the model of interfaith dialogue, looking at the similarities of two faiths as a good mutual starting point for peace. Ideally, however, people should move beyond any need. for that. Even where there are no commonalities, one hopefully can admire, appreciate, and treasure the diversity of the world's viewpoints, not merely tolerate it. Often people preach tolerance. However, tolerance only extends so far. Once a viewpoint begins to encroach on your own, many people will abandon tolerance. If we truly value diversity as so many people claim, then appreciation of differing views should become the norm, not the exception. It is in our diversity that this world is truly enriching, interesting, and meaningful. >>
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
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PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE