Models of Conflict Resolution and Peace in Jain Tradition

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Page 1

Models of Conflict - resolution and Peace
in Jain Tradition*
Dr. Nalini Joshi
INTRODUCTION :
In spite of using the word “Jainism', the title of the paper contends the word “Jain Tradition' which is very significant. If we try to search the models of Conflict-resolution and Peace in Jain environment, we see that these models are pervaded in the Jain way of conduct, in Jain society, in their pattern of observing religious practices, festivals and celebrations, in their history, in their Socio-political reactions, in Jain Art and Sculpture and in Jain Literature. All these aspects put together suggest that Jainism is not a mere philosophical system but a full-fledged tradition flourished in India, long back before the advent of Buddhism. THREE INHERITED MODELS IN REPRESENTING JAINISM :
In the first model, Jainism is re-presented as a negligible sister-system of Buddhism, as an essentially marginal unimportant heterodox group. This model is best seen in the countless references to the Jainas in the compound, "Buddhists and Jainas" and so on. The assumption is that by understanding something of the Buddhists, one know all one needs to know about their ‘darker reflection' - the phrase used by Louis Renou.
In the second model, Jainism is represented as a minority ascetic tradition, it is incapable of influencing political institutions or developing a mass popular following. The Jain tradition is characterized as boringly ascetic, austere, unimaginative and so forth.
In the third model, “pure' Jainism is defined as
* Research paper presented in the National Seminar jointly organised by
Centre for studies in Buddhism and Department of Buddhist studies, University, PUNE.