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Celebrating Jain Society of Houston Pratishtha Mahotsav 1995
(the doctrine of manifold
3. Anekantavada aspects)
5. Jiva-Daya (compassion, empathy, and charity)
Although the term ahimsa is stated in the negative (a-Non, Himsa = violence), it is rooted in a host of positive aims and actions which have great relevance to contemporary environmental concerns.
The concept of universal interdependence underpins the Jain theory of knowledge, known as Anekantavada, or the doctrine of manifold aspects. Anekantavada describes the world as a multifaceted, ever-changing reality with an infinity of viewpoints depending on the time, place, nature, and state of the one who is the viewer and that which is viewed
Ahimsa is an aspect of daya (compassion, empathy. and charity), described by a great Jain teacher as "the beneficent mother of all beings" and the "elixir for those who wander around suffering through the ocean of excessive re-births."
This leads to the doctrine of syadvada, or relativity, which states that the truth is relative to different viewpoints (nayas). What is true from one point of view it open to question from another. Absolute truth cannot be grasped from any one particular viewpoint alone because absolute truth is the sum total of all the different viewpoints that make up the universe.
Jiva-Daya means caring for and sharing with all living beings, tending, protecting, and serving them. It entails universal friendliness (maitri), universal forgiveness (kshama), and universal fearlessness (abhaya).
Because it is rooted in the doctrines of Anekantavada and Syadvada, Jainism does not look upon the universe from an anthropocentric, ethnocentric, or egocentric point of view. It takes into account the viewpoints of other species, other communities, and nations and other human beings.
Jains, whether monks, nuns, or householders, therefore affirm prayerfully and sincerely, that their heart is filled with forgiveness for all living beings, and that they have sought and received the forgiveness of all beings, that they crave the friendship of all beings, that all beings give them their friendship, and that there is not the slightest feeling
4. Samyaktva (equanimity)
of alienation or enmity in their heart for anyone or anything. They also pray the forgiveness and friendliness may reign throughout the world and that all living beings may cherish each other.
The discipline of non-violence, the recognition of universal interdependence, and the logic of the doctrine of manifold aspects leads inexorably to the avoidance of dogmatic, intolerant, inflexible, aggressive, harmful, and unilateral attitudes towards to world around. It inspires the personal quest of every Jain for Samyaktva (equanimity) towards both jiva (animate beings) and ajiva (inanimate substances and objects). It encourages and attitude of give and take and of live and let live. It offers a pragmatic peace plan based, not only on the domination of nature, nations, or other people, but on an equanimity of mind devoted to the preservation of the balance of the universe.
THE ABODE OF
DE OF SERVICE AND
ND SPIRITUALITY
"Meat eatery are like walking gravey of slaughtered animals"
(George Bernard Shaw)
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