Jainism

Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

Page 68

3. Anekantvad in Scriptures
According to Alsdorf the beginning of Jain monastic learning and scholarship originated and developed from the needs of transmitting and handing down to pupils the explanations of the sacred scriptures of Jainism. Jain Acharyas with a view to providing a scientific justification to the old inherited literature gave special emphasis to methodology establishing the distinctive trait of Jain scholasticism. Philosophically, the most scientific and efficacious part of the methodology is the theory of non-absolutism i.e. Anekantavada. According to Jain logic anekant accepts both the substance and the various modes ultimately as true. This is how the doctrine of Anekanta became the central thesis of Jain Philosophical thinking.
We find that Sthanang Sutra where the Jiva (Soul) is defined in several alternative ways, elaborates this:
• Jiva is singular to each animated being • Jiva could be of two types: Bonded with Karmas or Liberated
Jiva has three properties: Origination, Transformation and Perpetuity and likewise there could be 10 different ways of looking at it. These statements succinctly express the essence of Jain philosophy.
Jain scriptures also use familiar terms such as Syadvad, Nayavad, Nikashap, Tribhangi, Chaturbhangi, Saptabhangi and four Anuyogas. All of these methodologies are interrelated and have contributed to explaining the reality/truth with a strong tradition of rationality.
Co-opposites Anekant is a multisided perception theory where it explains the existence of some attributes that appear to be mutually contradictory or opposite and co-exist in the same object, each dimension being as plausible as another. It is with relation to other factors like time, place and context that one dimension gains predominance over another.
Anekant pronounces that the whole' is a sum total of two opposites. These opposites do not cancel each other; instead, they are complementary and add up to make a whole. A student of science would thoroughly know that if there is matter, anti-matter will be equally abundant. Opposites are actually two faces of the same coin whose true and clear picture is only complete when both faces co-exist together at the same place at the same point in time.
Anekant can mitigate several confrontations among different sects, societies, states and nations. Hence, it exhibits tolerance to other faiths to the extent that whoever follows