Acharya Mahaprajna
Anekanta constitutes in itself a clear-cut method of living. It begins with a change in outlook. Without the right vision, our concepts do not come to us after having been filtered through both the subtle and the gross world. Until our knowledge forms a synthesis of the manifest and the unmanifest, the perceptible and the imperceptible, we cannot take a correct decision and in that case it is not possible to avoid misfortune. The nature of a thing constitutes its truth; we cannot afford to ignore it. We must try to understand it.
No man can be happy who distorts the essential truths and defies the laws. Only that man can live a happy and peaceful life who recognizes the true nature of things, and does not try to distort the facts in accordance with his own ideas. Generally, a man does not want to conform to the ideal; on the contrary, he tries to mould the ideal to suit his fancy; he lowers down the standard. No man really wants to reach the exhaled state of divinity: rather he wants to bring down divinity to his own level. This is perversion, a false approach.
If this approach changes and we come to recognize truth as indivisible and eternal, no way is left for us to court unhappiness.
The anekantic approach results in harmony and goodwill. For this, the following five principles of harmony and coordination should be propagated:
- One should adopt a constructive policy. One's own belief should be propagated, but no allegations, verbal or written, should be made against anyone.
- One should be tolerant of other people's view.
- No feelings of hatred or contempt should be spread against a rival sect and its followers.
- If a person changes his sect, he should not be subjected to social boycott or other undesirable treatment.
- A collective effort should be made for the permeation in public life of the fundamental values of religion-non-violence, truth, non-stealing, brahmacharya (chastity) and non-possessiveness.
