Treat All Views With Equanimity And Respect
The twenty-fourth Jain tirthankara, Mahavira, presented the theory of 'anekant' that encourages terpersonal and communal armony by promoting tolerance in necommunity. The same principle can eextended to intellectual, social, eligious and other spheres. Anekant nsures peaceful co-existence to all peoples, however diverse their faith background. Today, everyone across the world is oubled by the growing intolerance between people and even countries. dia has a long tradition of tolerance. lahavira's philosophy of 'anekantvada' efers to the importance of giving room or multiple viewpoints. In its most basic norm, anekant means that there are nultiple perceptions of truth, and that no ingle point of view can be considered bsolutely right. This approach is quite ifferentfrom dogmatic religions that nsist: 'My way or the high way.' At the core of anekantvada is the belief that the universe and everything in it, that is the objects of our perception, are infinite in their qualities. Whereas human perception is finite, and what's more, each human's perceptions are different based on the filter through which they see the world. No two people are identical, and naturally it follows that there are as many different perceptions of the world as there are people! Thus, it is impossible for one individual to completely grasp all aspects and manifestations of the universe and truth. Statements like, 'Only my religion/sect is right and others are totally wrong, are creating wars. 'Other may be right' type of-thinking can increase the tolerance quotient. Anekantvery means belief in peaceful co-existence in both practical and philosophical ways. When you say 'you or me instead of 'you and me' the trouble starts. The sanctity of religion has been destroyed by this view. "Only those have the right to survive who follow my religion, all the rest should be extirpated." The dictionary meaning of 'tolerance' exposes the negative aspect of acceptance in a dominant manner. If tolerance is taken to mean 'ability or capacity to tolerate', it will point to tolerationout of compulsion, out of helplessness or out of dire need of survival. It may even indicate the attitude of treating the other person with condemnation or the attitude of a superiority complex and treating the other as inferior, as for example po underdeveloped countries. the speaking werful nations toleratingweak. Hence, true anekantvada is that which treats all other views, including itself, with equanimity. By doing so, the concept of anekantvada demands surrender of undue pride in one's own existence and supremacy a developing humility and respect towarother perspectives. In situations of communal disturbances and religioutensions, approaching the problem irspirit of anekantvada can help to solthese battles. Allreligions are different pathwaythe same goal, and no religion is superor inferior to another religion. All religiousfaiths are equally respectablThe theory can be applied to many sphres of life where there are battles arisiout of misunderstanding. And it can bwell understood that it is the theory advocatingequanimity amongand respect towards all possible alternativrather thanthe ability to 'tolerate'. Similarly in a democratic form ofgovernment, the doctrine of anekantvery important for both the ruling and opposition parties to accept the existence of each other as real and leto live with each other in a logical anepeaceful manner.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Anekant Kumar Jain personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Anekant Kumar Jain and Speaking Tree , Times of India
Treat All Views With Equanimity And Respect
The twenty-fourth Jain tirthankara, Mahavira, presented the theory of 'anekant' that encourages terpersonal and communal armony by promoting tolerance in necommunity. The same principle can eextended to intellectual, social, eligious and other spheres. Anekant nsures peaceful co-existence to all peoples, however diverse their faith background. Today, everyone across the world is oubled by the growing intolerance between people and even countries. dia has a long tradition of tolerance. lahavira's philosophy of 'anekantvada' efers to the importance of giving room or multiple viewpoints. In its most basic norm, anekant means that there are nultiple perceptions of truth, and that no ingle point of view can be considered bsolutely right. This approach is quite ifferentfrom dogmatic religions that nsist: 'My way or the high way.' At the core of anekantvada is the belief that the universe and everything in it, that is the objects of our perception, are infinite in their qualities. Whereas human perception is finite, and what's more, each human's perceptions are different based on the filter through which they see the world. No two people are identical, and naturally it follows that there are as many different perceptions of the world as there are people! Thus, it is impossible for one individual to completely grasp all aspects and manifestations of the universe and truth. Statements like, 'Only my religion/sect is right and others are totally wrong, are creating wars. 'Other may be right' type of-thinking can increase the tolerance quotient. Anekantvery means belief in peaceful co-existence in both practical and philosophical ways. When you say 'you or me instead of 'you and me' the trouble starts. The sanctity of religion has been destroyed by this view. "Only those have the right to survive who follow my religion, all the rest should be extirpated." The dictionary meaning of 'tolerance' exposes the negative aspect of acceptance in a dominant manner. If tolerance is taken to mean 'ability or capacity to tolerate', it will point to tolerationout of compulsion, out of helplessness or out of dire need of survival. It may even indicate the attitude of treating the other person with condemnation or the attitude of a superiority complex and treating the other as inferior, as for example po underdeveloped countries. the speaking werful nations toleratingweak. Hence, true anekantvada is that which treats all other views, including itself, with equanimity. By doing so, the concept of anekantvada demands surrender of undue pride in one's own existence and supremacy a developing humility and respect towarother perspectives. In situations of communal disturbances and religioutensions, approaching the problem irspirit of anekantvada can help to solthese battles. Allreligions are different pathwaythe same goal, and no religion is superor inferior to another religion. All religiousfaiths are equally respectablThe theory can be applied to many sphres of life where there are battles arisiout of misunderstanding. And it can bwell understood that it is the theory advocatingequanimity amongand respect towards all possible alternativrather thanthe ability to 'tolerate'. Similarly in a democratic form ofgovernment, the doctrine of anekantvery important for both the ruling and opposition parties to accept the existence of each other as real and leto live with each other in a logical anepeaceful manner.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Anekant Kumar Jain personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Anekant Kumar Jain and Speaking Tree , Times of India