Book Title: Jain Dharma Darshan evam Sanskruti
Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Page 171
________________ 162 We should do believe in the unity of world religions but unity according to them does not imply omnivorous unity in which all lose their entity and identity. They believe in that type of unity where in all the alien faiths will conjoin each other to form an organic whole without losing their own independent existence and work for a common goal i.e. the welfare of mankind. The only way to remove the religious conflicts and violence from the earth is to develop a tolerant outlook and to establish harmony among various religions. Blind Faith - the root of Intolerance Among the causes that generate fanaticism and intolerance, blind faith is the principal one; it results from passionate and uncritical outlook. In point of fact, it is considered as a central element in religious intolerance. It leads one's attitude towards a strong bias for one's own and against others religions. Attachment and aversion are the two great enemies of right thinking. Truth can reveal itself to an impartial thinker. Unbiased attitude is not only essential, but it is also the imperative in the search of truth. One, who is unbiased and impartial, can perceive the truth of his opponent'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. The religions, which lay more emphasis on blind faith than reason, are narrower and fundamentalist. While the religions which give due importance to reason also are more conciliatory and harmonious. It is the reason or critical outlook which acts as checkpost in religious faiths and rituals. The uncritical outlook and even a pious attachment towards the prophet, the path and the scripture is also a hindrance to the truth seeker and aspirant of perfection. Attachment results in blind faith, superstition and consequences into intolerant conduct. A person who is in the grip of attachment cannot get rid of imperfection. Gautama, a chief disciple of Lord Mahāvīra, failed to attain omniscience in the life time of Mahāvīra on account of his pious attachment towards Mahāvīra. Same was the case with Ananda, the chief disciple of Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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