Jain Concept of Peace

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Vijyanandsuri_Swargarohan_Shatabdi_Granth_012023.pdf

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peace and harmony in human society. Peace can be established and prosperity can be secured on the earth through non-violence and mutual faith. Regard for others idealogies and faith
Fanaticism or intolerance is another curse of our age. Jainism, since its inception, believes in and preaches for peace, harmony, and tolerance. It has been tolerant and respectful toward other faiths and religious ideologies throughout its history of existence. In Jainism one hardly comes across with instances of religious conflicts involving, violence and bloodshed. Often one meets with instances of disputations and strongly worded debates concerning ideological disagreements. The Jaina men of learning, while opposing the different ideologies and religious standpoints paid full regard to them and accepted that the opponents' convictions may also be valid from a certain standpoint.
Among the causes that generate fanaticism and intolerance the blind faith is the principal; it results from passionate attachment and hence uncritical or 'unexamining' outlook. It causes perverse attitude. In Jainism various types of attachment are enumerated among them darsana-moha/drstiraga (blind faith), due to its very disposition, has been reckoned "paramount". In point of fact, it is considered central in religious intolerance. It leads one's attitude towards a strong bias for one's own, and against other's religion. Non-attachment is therefore considered as a 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 coloured glasses or suffering from jaundice is unable to see the true colour of objects as they are. "Attachment and hatred are the two great enemies of philosophical thinking. Truth can reveal itself to an impartial thinker'.24 One who is unbiased and impartial can perceive the truth in his opponents's ideologies and faiths and thus can possess deference to them. Intense attachment unfailingly generates blind faith in religious leaders, dogmas, doctrines and rituals and consequently religious intolerance and fanaticism come into existence.
Jainism holds that the slightest even pious attachment, towards the prophet, the path, and the scripture is also a hindrance to a seeker of truth and an aspirant of perfection. Attachment, be it pious or impious, cannot ge without aversion or repulsion. Attachment results in blind faith and
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Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth