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Development of the Theory of Non-absolutism... : 43
Viṣṇu, Śiva or Jina'. This saying is further supported by Hemacandra in his Mahadeva-stotra.32 He says 'I bow those who have destroyed attachment and aversion, the seeds of birth and death, be they Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Hara or Jina'.
Among the causes that generate fanaticism and intolerance, blind faith is the principal; it results from passionate mind based on attachment and hence uncritical. According to the Jainas, attachment causes perverse attitude. It leads one's attitude towards a strong bias for one's own faith or religion. A perverse and hence defiled attitude renders it impossible to view things rightly just a person wearing colored glasses or suffering jaundice is unable to see the things as they are. Attachment and aversion are the causes for fundamentalism or fanaticism. These two are the enemies of a true philosophical, thinking. Jainism holds that the truth can reveal itself to a impartial thinker. This impartial and unbiased attitude can only be generated through non-absolutism i.e. the doctrine of Anekāntavāda. Thus we can say that Jainism through its doctrine of Anekāntavāda has a sound philosophical foundation for religious tolerance.
Anandaghana, a mystic Jaina saint of 17th century A. D. remarks that just as ocean included all the rivers so does non-absolutism of Jainas to all other faiths. Jainas accept all other view-points and school of thoughts conjoins to each other, they form a broader outlook. He further remarks that all the six schools of thought are the organs on Jina and one who worships Jina also worships them. It is through this broader and unbiased outlook we can ensure peace and harmony on this planet.
What is Humanity?
The question may be raised what we mean by the term humanity? The simple answer is, humanity is nothing but the presence of selfawareness, reasonableness and self-control. These three qualities are accepted as distinguishing features between a human being and animal being by all the humanist thinkers of our age. These three basic qualities are comprehended in Jaina concept of three jewels, i.e. Samyak-darśana (right vision) Samyak-jñāna (right knowledge)
