The third principle that Mahavira emphasised is that truth can be understood by multiple viewpoints. In Sanskrit, it is called anekantavada. It means that truth cannot be taken as absolute; it is non-absolute. There are multiple ways to understand the truth; everyone talks about one single viewpoint, but if you put all the pieces together, then it becomes a beautiful truth and it becomes Ultimate Reality.

Building Bridges-2

The third principle that Mahavira emphasised is that truth can be understood by multiple viewpoints. In Sanskrit, it is called anekantavada. It means that truth cannot be taken as absolute; it is non-absolute. There are multiple ways to understand the truth; everyone talks about one single viewpoint, but if you put all the pieces together, then it becomes a beautiful truth and it becomes Ultimate Reality. There are multiple ways to understand reality. The perfect example of anekantavada is the story of six blind men trying to perceive the elephant. All of them had a different perception but if we put all those perceptions together, you will get a picture of an elephant.

When we talk of philosophy, there are many interpretations. If you put them all together, it will give a way of coexistence. Anekantavada says don’t fight with each other; understand what the other person wants to say. It gives the solution wherever there is conflict. These are the basic principles of Jainism, which are relevant even today and allow all countries to coexist peacefully in the modern world.

According to a French Indologist, Hindu philosophy allowed for various forms of interaction, including the kshatriya dharma; therefore, the practice of nonviolence was meant for individual enlightenment but could not be applied to social and political interactions because of the role of warrior-protector. Why then is everybody expected to behave as a Shramana?

In Shramana culture (ancient Indian religious movement, parallel to vedic traditions), they talk about two lifestyles. One is for the monks and nuns, dedicated to living a life of nonviolence. The other is the lifestyle for lay people, shravakas meaning householders. Shravakas give up unnecessary violence but they have to do necessary violence. Not thinking bad of others, not committing murder, not killing, for instance, hunting and fishing. Unnecessary violence can be given up, but necessary violence, when you have to do business, live with the family, there you have to draw a line.

So, warriors — somebody in the army who has to take care of the country can say: ‘I will not kill unnecessarily,’ but for the defence of the country, if it is necessary, then lay followers have to do necessary violence. Sometimes people kill for fun, for instance, during hunting. This unnecessary violence can be given up. But to defend oneself, to take care of the family, you might have to do necessary violence.

Necessary and unnecessary violence is subjective. For instance, for a butcher, hunting or a killing may be necessary. How does one deal with this subjectivity?

There are certain principles that are universal. Violence will always be criticised. Violence first hurts our own consciousness. Our own mind gets contaminated by negative thoughts. It’s a fine line to find out what is necessary and unnecessary. Each individual has to choose. Everyone has a choice, so ask the question to yourself and listen to what your consciousness says. What your consciousness speaks is the right action for you to do.

If you hear the voice of your own consciousness, you will get solutions to your problems.

I heard somewhere that to grow in life one has to be dissatisfied. If I’m satisfied, I may not want to grow in life. What should one choose to grow further in life — discontentment or peace of mind?

Will dissatisfaction give you peace of mind? It can give you the road map for growth but will it give you happiness? No. Be dissatisfied with the knowledge you have gained and be dissatisfied with your actions or the things that you are not doing right today. Material wealth and prosperity alone can never give you complete satisfaction.

Om Namah Shivay