Lessons of Ahimsa and Anekanta for Contemporary Life

Author(s): Tara Sethia
Publisher: California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Page 119

Lessons of Ahimsā and Anekānta for Contemporary Life
Haribhadra makes a plea for tolerance, writing that “various perspectives on conduct" can arise (YDS 138), but that these should not be criticized, as one cannot be apprised of all the circumstances (YDS 140). He advocates a stance of reconciliation and insists that it would be improper to refute or revile well-intentioned people:
Hence it is not proper to refute words of reconciliation. Refuting or reviling noble people, it seems, would be worse than cutting one's own tongue (YDS 141).
He advocated that even if one disagrees with another person's ideas, one should always strive to be helpful to the other. He criticizes the notion that logic alone can set one free as can be seen from the following passage:
With effort, even a position inferred through the proper establishment of premises may certainly be approached in another way, being assailed by opponents (YDS 145). If the meaning of those things beyond the senses could be known through a statement of reason, then by now it would have been ascertained by the scholars (YDS 146).
In other words, thoughts alone cannot set one free; in contrast, the arrogance associated with logic and scholarship can be a great impediment to one's liberation. He says that liberation requires a loosening of attachment to all things (dharmas), including argumentation and logic. Haribhadra concludes this section with an appeal to be kind and generous to all people. For instance, he writes:
Even the slightest of pain to others is to be avoided with great effort. Along with this, one should strive to be helpful at all times (YDS 150).
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