Jain Journal 2010 07

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 28

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLV, NO. I-IV JULY.-JUNE 10-11
without hesitation that the Jaina anekāntavāda is that very philosophical thought which truly represents the spirit of tolerance pervading the wide cultural outlook of Indian tradition and which appears to provide a strong philosophical support to the ideology of tlerance.
In conclution we may say, following A. N. Upadhye that, the Jaina philosophers has taken the fullest advantage of anekāntavāda not only in building the system by a judicious search and balance of various viewpoints, but also in understanding sympathetically the views of others from which they differs and appreciating why there as difference between the two. This analytical approach to reality has saved the mankind from extremism, dogmatism and fanaticism and has further bred in him remarkable intellectual tolerance a rare virtue indeed11. Anekānta view is not skepticism, because it is not based on doubt and distrust, it is not solipsism, because it is based on an objective determination of things. It presents a catholic approach to the problems of life, T.G. Kalghatgi12 says. Following Ramakant Sinari 13, we may say that, the Jaina theory of anekānta provides the culture of peace as a norm of conduct, an ideology at work, can be the basis of the highest democratic and liberal values, viz., the coexistence of the diverse points of view, the habit of understanding and tolerance in one concerning the other paradigm and value scheme, the unconditional rejection of force in all inter-subjective, inter-communal and international dealings, and the brotherhood among all without any injury by one to the dignity of the other. The humanistic message of Jainism thus came to life in the framework of a simple, easily understandable and emotionally moving theory, which is well-known by the name of - anekāntavāda.
(Acknowledgement: I gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance from the UGC, New Delhi, hrough a minor research project grant (F. PHW003/10-11, ERO) to me.]