World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 609

Thus for Jainas the directive principle of living is not 'living on other's or "living by killing', but 'living with others' or 'living for others'. They proclaim that co-operation and co-existence are the essential nature of living beings. If it is so, then we must accept that religious tolerance and fellowship of faiths are such principles to be followed at the bottom of one's hearts.
One World-Religion : A Myth
Though in order to eradicate the conficts and stop violence in the name of religion from the world some may give a slogan of one world religion but it is neither feasible nor practicable. So far as the diversities in thoughts and habits, in cultural background and intellenctual levels of the human beings are in existence, the varieties in religious ideologies and practices are essential. Jaina pontiff Haribhadra rightly maintains that the diversity in the teachings of the Sages is due to diversity in the levels of their disciples or the diversity in the standpoints adopted by the Sages themselves or the diversities in place and time i.e. ethinic circumstances, in which they preached or it is only apparent diversity. Just as a physician prescribes different medicines according to the condition of patients, his illness and the climatic conditions, so is the case with the diversity in religious preachings also'. Therefore, unity, as well as diversity both are equally essential for the fellowship of faiths and we should not undermine any one of them. Just as the beauty of a garden consists in the variety of flowers, fruits and plants, in the same way the beauty of the garden of religions depends on the variety of thoughts, ideals and modes of worship. Equal Regard to all Religions
According to Jainas equal regard to different faiths and religions should be the base of religious harmony and fellowship of faiths. Jaina Ācārya Siddhasena Divakara remarks "just as emerald and other jewels of rare quality and of excellent kind do not acquire the disignation of necklace of jewels and find their position on the chest of human beings so is the case with different religions and faiths. What ever excellent qualities and virtues they possess unless they are catenated in the common thread of fellowship and have equal regard for others, they can not find their due place in human hearts and can be changed for spreading hostility and hatred in mankind 10."
Therefore, one thing we must bear in our mind that if we consider other religions or faiths as inferior to ours or false, real harmony will not be possible. We have to give equal regard to all the faiths and religions. Every religion or mode of worship has its origination in a particular social and cultural background and has its utility and truth value accordingly.
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