Applied Philosophy Of Jainism

SR No.: 032589
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publication Year: 2018
Total Pages: 82
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 39

Chapter II DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEORY OF NON-ABSOLUTISM (ANEKĀNTAVĀDA) AND
QUALIFIED ASSERTION (SYĀDVĀDA)
Non-violence in practice, non-absolutistic approach in thought and conditional predication or qualified assertion (Syādvāda) in speech are the pillars upon which the splendid palace of Jainism is erected. Theory of non-absolutism (Anekāntavāda) is the central philosophy of Jainism. As far as the historical development of this theory of Anekāntavāda is concerned; its historical development can be divided into three phases. Its first phase begins with the preachings of Mahāvīra, i.e., c. 6th B. C. and is extended up to the composition of Umāsvāti's Tattvārtha-sütra (first half of the c. 4th A. D.). It was the period of origination of Anekāntavāda. Basically, the non-violent and tolerant attitude of Mahāvīra helped much in the development of the non-absolutistic principle of Anekāntavāda. In Sūtrakstānga, he clearly opines, “one who praises one's own view-point and discards other's view as a false-one and thus, distorts the truth will remain confined to the cycle of birth and death." It follows that Mahāvīra preached the uttermost carefulness regarding one's speech. In his opinion speech should be unassaulting as well as true. He warned his disciple monks against making unwarranted categorical assertions or negations. He instructed them to make only a conditional statement (Vibhajjavāyaṁ ca viyāgarejjā)?. It is the Vibhajjavāda from which the theory of non-absolutism (Anekāntavāda) emerged. Sūtrakstānga, in its first chapter records various contemporary one-sided doctrines regarding the nature of soul and creation of the universe. Mahāvīra's approach to all these doctrines is non-absolutistic or relative. In every case, whether it