Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 006587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 276
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 213

Jainism : The Cosmic Vision and reflects reverence for an individual. Man can never be at the centre of the philosophy which says that everything is controlled by God and man is a mere puppet. He himself is not free, he has no independent will or freedom. Jainism, on the other hand, grants complete freedom to every one to act the way he wants to do.
Human rights encompass freedom of thought, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression. Jain religion has the doctrine of anekant, its literal meaning is the doctrine of nonabsolutism. It is Jainism's unique gift to the world. Anekant advocates looking at things from all angles. It takes into account thoughts and opinions of others. It says : Others, too, have a point of view and we must respect it. Knowledge or thought or behaviour has to be examined from a variety of angles so as to get a total, complete picture.
Anekant is an all-pervasive approach of this religion towards every facet of human values and behaviour. It is the corner stone on which the well-thought out Jain philosophy is based. It is a concept which teaches us rational behaviour to be practised in every walk of our life. The nicety of this concept mainly lies in the fact that it teaches us to be impartial and objective towards everything; to be unbiased in our thinking and in our conduct. It inspires us to have an all-pervasive view towards every problem that confronts us, to look to the other side of the matter also, so as to enable us to make a correct and rational judgement on issues that we face in our life. It teaches us to look at and judge everything with an open mind, the greater the openness of mind, the greater would be the clarity, impartiality and objectivity in our thinking.
196