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Mark Tully Probes Jainism
"The Jains deny any role for a 'Creator God'
the salvation of souls.”
making him uncomfortable and is reported to have even good Christian and a true Hindu as well. The Jains can, I banished Jain merchants on several occasions from his capital believe, agree with this broad view, since their religion does city of Agra.) Of course Akbar did not give up his Islamic faith, not seek salvation through devotion to a particular Deity or but the Jains were gratified that they had persuaded a a Teacher (not even a particular Jina), but only through the non-believer emperor to respect the life of animals and to that true understanding of the nature of the self. extent he had embraced a basic tenet of Jainism.
Probably such a non-absolutist attitude can be traced to the There are many people I think in the West who feel in most ancient Jain doctrine of anekanta or multifacetedness, some ways that religions like Christianity have failed. which admits the possibility that reality can be viewed They look towards the religions of India like Jainism and differently by different persons from a variety of angles. This Buddhism and indeed certain aspects of Hinduism for a provides the Jains with an incentive for critical inquiry into the completely different view and a different way to search for teachings of others, and regardless of the
God. You seem to think that there differences it may lead to a peaceful
is much in common in all relico-existence. This was demonstrated by
gions. What are the fundamental the participation of the Jains, led by the
differences between the Indian and London-based Institute of Jainology, in an
other religions in search for God? Interfaith Dialogue (Jainism and
This is a very broad question and I Catholicism) initiated by the Vatican. I was either in the creation or in cannot truly answer in a short time. a spokesman for the Jain Faith, and the Jain
Speaking for Jainism, there are delegation had the good fortune of being
certain basic values - respect for life presented to His Holiness the Pope.
for example - which distinguish it
from others. Jains, as it is well If I were in your position and I were to meet the Pope, I would known, don't have a holy cow. They don't worship animals. ask him how he could bring together these two very different They don't dip in the Ganges. And yet all life, both human concepts: your concept that there is goodness in all religions and animal, and even the elements of nature" (earth, water, and his concept that he is the Holy Father and the Roman fire and air) are "sacred” for them in the sense that they may Catholic Church is the one true Church, the ultimate not be violated. This respect for life, so much emphasised ambition of which is to make the whole world Catholic? in Jainism but present in all Indian religions, can become I do not believe interfaith dialogue begins with the assumption the starting point in our search for new ethics of ecology. of equality among the faiths. As a matter of fact, equality has never been admitted by any religion including Jainism. The Is this the specific contribution of Indian religion? Jains view different faiths as so many steps on a ladder (no I would say so. The Bible tells us that the universe was doubt, themselves on the highest rung), which provides room created for man's exploitation and that animals were for respect for each other's spiritual quest, a prerequisite for any created as food for humans. Wealth and worldly power are dialogue.
seen as proof of God's grace. If this is true, then what is
there to prevent us from excessive accumulation which Mahatma Gandhi, who of course was deeply influenced by must create a civilisation based on consumerism and superJainism himself, once said to a Christian woman who wanted markets? Jainism and other Indian religions throughout the to become a Hindu: "Look, you must become a better ages have been asking us to minimise our needs and to turn Christian because that was what you were born." Do you inside toward our souls for true accept this as part of Jainism that the religion you are born is happiness. Of course, the idea of probably the natural religion through which you should seek renunciation is not altogether absent in the meaning of life and salvation?
other world religions and there is a I doubt if Mahatma Gandhi had a particular sect in mind when common ground here on which to he said, "You should become a better Christian." He uses the build a new society. word Christianity not in the sectarian sense in which it is employed by the Catholic Church or the Church of England.
The above interview was conducted in Mahatma Gandhi's Christianity is based on the Sermon on the
1995 for Mark Tully's BBC broadcast Mount, a text which he can equate with a portion of the
series "Something Understood" at the Bhagavad-Gita. For him such designations as a Christian or a
London studio of Unique Broadcasting Hindu point to a spiritually oriented person engaged in the Company. Part 2 of this interview will service of the poor. In that sense he probably saw himself as a be published in the next Issue.
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Jain Spirit • June - August 2001
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o n international 2010/03
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