Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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synthesis of one sided and partial views, essence of spiritual nectar and easily graspable to the aspirants of emancipation.42
Ānandaghana, a mystic Jaina saint of the 17th cent. A.D. remarks that just as ocean includes all the rivers so does Jainism all other faiths. Further, he beautifully expounds that all the six heretic schools are the organs of Jinaand one who worships Jinaalso worships them.3 Historically we also find that various deities of other sects are adopted in Jainism and wrshipped by the Jainas. Ācārya Somadeva in his work Yaśastilakcampū remarks that where there is no distortion from right faith and accepted vows, one follow the tradition prevailing in the country.“
As we have already said that Jainas believe in the unity of world religions, but unity, according to them, does not imply omnivorous unity in which all the alien faiths will conjoin each other to form a organic whole without loosing their own independent existence. In other words it believes in a harmonious co-existence or a liberal synthesis in which all the organs have their individual existence, but work for a common goal i.e. the peace of mankind. To eradicate the religious conflicts and violence from the world, some may give a slogan of "one world religion" but it is neither possible nor practicable so far as the diversities in human thoughts are in existence. In the Niyamasāra it is said that there are different persons, their different activities or kannas and different levels or capacities, so one should not engage himself in hot discussions neither with other sects nor one's own sect.45
Haribhadra remarks that the diversity in the teachings of the Sages is due to the diversity in the levels of their disciples or the diversity in standpoints adopted by the Sages or the diversity in the period of time when they preached, or it is only an apparent diversity. Just as a physician prescribes medicine according to the nature of patient, its illness and the climate, so the case of diversity of religious teachings.46 So far as diversity in time, place, levels and understanding of disciples is inevitable, variety in religious conflicts is to develop a tolerant outlook and to establish harmony among them.
At last I would like to conclude my paper by quoting a beautiful verse of religious tolerance of Acārya Amitagati –
Sattvesu maitri gunisu pramodam
Klistesujivcsu krpāparatvam / Madhyasthyabhāvm vipanta vrttau
Sadā mamātmā vidadhātudeva. 47// Oh Lord! I should be friendly to all the creatures of world and feel delight in meeting the virtuous people. I should always be helpful to those who are in miserable conditions and tolerant to my opponents.
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