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Society in Jaina Philosophy and Literature
"Friendliness towards all beings, delight in the qualities of virtuous ones, utmost compassion for afflicted beings, equanimity towards those who are not well disposed towards me, May O Lord! my soul have such dispositions as these forever."
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Non-absolutism (anekāntavāda) and Society
Non-absolutism (anekāntavāda) is the central philosophy of Jainism. It defines reality as universal-cumparticular. Society is also of this nature. Maciver and Charles Page (1990: 7) say:
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"Society involves both likeness and difference. If people were all exactly alike, merely alike, their social relationship would be as limited, perhaps, as those of the ant or bee."
Thus anekāntavāda itself defines the nature of society. Anekāntavāda has its ethical value also. It provides an opportunity to understand the other's views through theory of different standpoints (nayavāda). It is very much useful for social communication and mutual harmony. Prejudices close the doors to understand other's views rightly. Anekāntavāda is a base of human behaviour as the eminent Jaina philosopher Siddhasena (5th century) says:
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"I bow to the anekāntavāda, a teacher of the world, without which behavior of the world cannot run.'
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sattveṣu maitrim guniṣu pramodam, kliṣṭeṣu jīveṣu kṛpāparatvam; mādhyasthabhāvam viparītavṛttau,
sadā mamātmā vidadhātu deva. ?
60 PT5.1: tasya visayaḥ sāmānyaviśeṣādyanekāntātmakam vastu. "SP 3.69: Jena viņā logassa vi vavahāro savvahā na nivvaḍai; tassa bhuvaṇekkaguruņo ṇamo aṇegantavāyassa.
