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40 : Applied Philosophy of Jainism Thus non-absolutism or Anekāntavāda of Jainism forbids allowing the individual to be dogmatic and one sided in approach. It pleads for a broader outlook and open-mindedness, which can resolve the conflicts that emerge from differences in ideologies and faiths. Satkari Mookerjee rightly observes that Jainas do not believe in extremist a priori logic of the absolutism pragmatically considered, this logical attitude breeds dogmatism and it carried a step further, engenders fanaticism, worst and theories of non-violence and non-absolutism. Can we generate a broader and tolerant outlook and thus can resolve the conflicts of ideologies and faiths. If we want to save the humanity form the curses of fanaticism and dogmatism, we should accept the Jaina theory of non-absolutism or Anekāntavāda. It is the Anekāntavāda, which forbids being dogmatic and fanatic in our approach. Prof. T.Ğ. Kalghatgi rightly mentions "the spirit of Anekānta is a very much necessary in society; specially in the present days when conflicting ideologies are trying to assert supremacy aggressively Anekānta brings the spirit of intellectual and social tolerance" For the present day society what is awfully needed is the virtue of tolerance. This virtue of tolerance i.e. the regard for other ideologies and faiths has been maintained in Jainism from the very beginning. Mahāvīra mentions in the Sūtrakstānga, 'Those who praise their own faiths and ideologies and blame those of their opponents and thus distort the truth, will remain confined to the cycle of birth and death.27 According to Jaina thinkers equal regard to different faith and religions should be the base of religious harmony and fellowship of faiths. Jaina saint Siddhasena Divākara remarks, "Just as emerald and other jewels of rare quality and of excellent kind do not acquire the designation of necklace of jewels and find their position on the chest of human beings, so is the case with different religions and faiths. Whatever excellent qualities and virtues they possess, unless they are united in the common thread of fellowship and equal regard for other, they cannot have their due place in human hearts and can be changed for spreading hostility and hatred in mankind. Therefore
| SR No. | 032589 |
| Book Title | Applied Philosophy Of Jainism |
| 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 |