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A MOVE FOR RECONCILIATION
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Liberal interpretation is a true interpretation Truth is essentially multiple and cannot be understood from one angle of Vision nor expressed in one word
In the context of liberal, inclusive attitude, it is natural to question whether Mahavira combined in his philosophy opinions of diverse sects or he had an original philosophy of his own
Mahavira has been described as omniscient and truly vast in vision He knew all that occured and observed everything Omniscience and vast vision is the foundation on which he built the superstructure of his philosophy The
salient features of his doctrine are each dravya (substance) : has innumerable attributes and each attribute is invariably
accompanied by its opposite attribute Thus in each substance infinite equal and opposite modalities inhere The system is not a mere combination of divergent views The doctrine has evolved the great comprehensive approach itself into a matchless philosophical instrument This comprehensive and reconciliatory attitude is not unprecedented However, the doctrine of each substance possessing infinite counterbalancing attributes is novel
Universal and particular, both are the attributes of substance Hence one who has grasped the Mahavira's system will neither support nor refute the universalistic Vedanta nor the particularistic Buddhism He finds both the views reconciliable When we forget the modes and attend to the substance only, we find the universal as universal and Vedant as Vedanta When we ignore the substance and observe modes only we find the particular as particular and the dual as dual However, a follower of Mahavira can never forget that no substance is without its modes nor any mode without the substance To exclusively attend to the universal or the particular is a matter of perspective The universal and the particular float together in the ocean of reality
The inclusive genius appreciates the comprehensive nature of the thing by discovering the link that connects the
