Anekanta

Anekanta

Anekanta is a system of considering an object in all its modes. Anekanta holds that reality is multi-dimensional, dynamic, and operates at different levels. Thus, Anekanta is truly a dynamic tool for considering reality, which by itself is dynamic.

How does Anekanta work?
Equipped with Anekanta, the Jain appreciates reality in all its aspects. She or he is equipped to understand other people's viewpoints. This makes her or him a better listener, more sympathetic and more receptive to others and their viewpoints.

He or she is willing to consider any phenomena in its entirety. She or he is diligent enough to examine all precedents, willing to approach any issue with an open mind and unwilling to jump to an instantaneous conclusion.

Faced with a complex moral question, he or she is willing to consider the conundrum in all its aspects. She or he is willing to think for her or himself, consider the issue from its various viewpoints. He or she is willing to put himself or herself in other people's shoes and see the issue from their viewpoints.

Such a rational and ethical approach is bound to lead to less violence, less anger and consequently, less anguish.

In my humble opinion, there is a direct relationship between anger and anguish. The more anger you have the more anguish you will feel. The less anger you have, the less anguished you will experience.

A sane rational man or woman is not only logical, but also applaud able and will find a non-violent solution and hence a lasting peace.

Only the non-violent settling of problems creates a lasting peace. Aggression, belligerence and violence will only beget a temporary truce fraught with tension. Reasoned, fair, non-violent and mutually agreed-upon solutions always bring a lasting peace, and a peace among equals.

The relations of India and the United Kingdom have changed. India, the former colony, and UK, the former colonizer, have become at peace with one another, because the Indian National Movement had been largely an exercise in non-violence and self-restraint. If India had gone instead for a bloody revolution and indulged in senseless violence, millions of lives would have been lost and bad blood would have been created for generations.

The victors of the First World War imposed a dishonorable defeat and a peace among non-equals by mortgaging the human rights and economy of the Germans, and consequently, trampling on their self-respect. Two decades later, Germany was held responsible for another World War. Had the victors of the First World War imposed less rigorous and damaging terms on the German people, or created a peace among equals, perhaps there may not have been a Second World War!