Dr. Samani Shashi Pragya
It is a common misconception that anekānta philosophy asserts that everybody is right. It doesn't lead a person anywhere, but just leaves him/her hanging in the middle. The theory of anekānta, if reflected upon deeply, leads to a definite conclusion. Tirthaṅkara Mahāvīra says, every decision has four components namely matter (dravya), place (kṣetra), time (kāla) and state (bhāva).[1] On the basis of these four components, decisions keep changing. Anekānta says, do not take any decision without considering matter, place, time and state. The first decision is right under particular conditions and the second is right in the changed condition. Both are right, relative to the prevailing condition. Relative decisions fall within the purview of truth. For example, a man says, he would not drink milk and after ten days, he begins to do so. His decision not to drink milk may be right in the first situation and the decision to drink milk may also be right in the second situation. For example, in dysentery, milk is like poison. If a man ailing from dysentery, decides not to have milk, it is a right decision. The ailment is cured. If the same person decides to take milk after getting his health improved, that is also a right decision. We cannot accept any decision as an absolute. The successful leader always takes any decision, keeping in his mind the future possibilities of interest. For example, there is a man in service. Today, he may be honest, tomorrow he may cheat and vice versa.[2] One cannot function considering the present mode as the eternal. By breaking the soul of relativity and replacing it with independence, no decision can be taken. All our decisions should be taken at the practical level on the basis of anekānta. Anekānta is a very significant sūtra for knowing the future, learning from the past and for living in the present.[3] Any leader learns a lesson from the results of the previous decisions and works accordingly at present as per his previous experience and takes the fruitful decisions for the future profit of the organization.
So anekānta is a three-dimensional vision. It is not a single one-dimensional vision. It keeps as its foundation all the three time zones. The successful leader always gives due respect to the views of his officers, consults with them, gives them an opportunity to offer suggestions, comments if any, and makes incentive plans if at all needed and uses laudable statement for an officer, if he yields successful results in the company. On the other hand, if someone discloses the secrets of the company for his personal interest such a member is dismissed for his disloyalty towards the company. In each and every step of life, taking decision is inevitable, in choosing ones career, in choosing one’s life partner, in choosing a friend and so forth. We need to look at all the necessary perspectives regarding particular situation before decision. It is basically on our decisions, that success or failure in life depends. Anekāntic decision always leads one to success.
