1. NON-ABSOLUTISM
Non-violence in conduct and non-absolutism in thought is the
essence of development with peace. Non-absolutism demands equanimity in the examination of
issues. It requires looking at things and thoughts from various aspects and to
evaluate the role of a person in the context. It takes a person nearer to the
truth without attachment or aversion. It entails looking at others with
empathy.
What one treats as truth may be considered as untrue by
others. The argument itself may lead to the distortion. Truth may be professed
partially in more than one way. This may raise the question whether it is real
or mirage. Is there room for paradox and resulting dilemma? The partial truth
may be obscuring the whole and may confuse. This may be resolved by introducing
relativity and probability in the statement. Partial truth is akin to the
result of a mathematical model which may yield reliable result for the
specified parameters within the ambit of assumptions.
2. VISION
Right vision may lead to quest for knowledge as a means to
realize the whole truth. Sensory and extra-sensory perceptions are the means of
realizing the truth. Sensory perceptions involve mind and intelligence and are
common experiences. The perception is the partial truth relatively but may not be
whole truth. The extra-sensory knowledge is direct without intermediaries and
is not colored by externalities. In contrast the sensory knowledge and thought
process is relative to the environment. Properties of an existent may be
perceived in relation to situation and may be the partial truth. To resolve
this, we state “relative to” with every intelligent alternative and “probably”
with the statement. This may lead to clarity between the speaker and the listener
regarding the understanding. The relativity and probability helps in
appreciating the partial/conditional truth about the situational reality. This
may lead to better communication free of doubt and persuasion.
3. EQUANIMITY
Mahaveer was born nearly 600 years before Christ in a
republican system. At the age of 28 he expressed the calling to be a Shraman,
the wanderer in search of the truth. He stayed with family till 30, practicing
detachment and meditation. In the first phase he decided to withstand pain due
to weather, hunger and ridicule. He realized that the fearlessness is the key
to strength and spiritual development. The attachment to body is the source of
fear. Violence, animosity and frustrations are based on body, mind and speech
and their interaction with acts and omissions. Equanimity is the essence of his
endeavors. He realized that the absence of attachment and aversion is the first
step to equanimity. Violence, untruth, stealing, perversion and luxury are the
consequence of attachment and aversion. He remained without food for 4213 days
out of 4563 days and without clothes. He rose beyond pain and pleasures and
ultimately developed extra-sensory perceptions.
4. REALITY
What exists around us is REAL and cannot be negated even
while it is destructible and indescribable. Even the paradox is reality and
understanding the same leads to realization. The real and material world is
based on co-existence and cooperation. Conflict and contradiction are the
function of our intelligence.
Creation-destruction, change-permanence etc are part of the ONGOING
process.
5. Q & A
Q & A of Mahaveer with the disciple Gautama is
revealing:
Q: What is truth?
A: Cannot be described.
Q: How to know Truth?
A: Search for yourself.
Q: How do we search?
A: Focus the mind, observe the silence and stabilize the
body.
Q: How do we lead the life?
A: Speak, move and eat with restraint and care.
Q: If the path for search can be explained, why not the
Truth?
A: Partial truth may be explained but not the whole, which
has to be realized.
Right knowledge is to
understand the relativity between what is expressed and what has to be
realized.
Q: What is the truth that can be expressed?
A: Existent is the truth and so is the substance and it’s
modification even though it is impermanent. The balance and harmony between the
two is the TRUTH.
6. BALANCE
Mahaveer advises balance between knowledge and conduct. He
envisions the truth and prescribes refrains, restraints and austerities both
internal and external. The balance between right vision, right knowledge and
right conduct is liberation. He evolves the sequence of seeing internally,
knowing and doing. Knowledge without vision and conduct without knowledge is the
waste of effort. Vision provides the quest for knowledge and translates into
conduct that liberates.
7. ATMA
Mahaveer did not envisage an all powerful creator, sustainer
or destroyer. Nature, deeds and Soul are the corner-stones. The path purifies
the soul and transforms into Param-Atma in bliss that is free of
transmigration.
Nature was there, is here, and will be there forever. Deeds
result into bondage or liberation. Soul is comparable to the Gold ore at
different stages of purification. An idol in the temple is the inspiration that
following the Path any human being may become the soul in bliss.
8. CO-EXISTENCE
Soul has individual identity. No soul is a part or dependent
upon other. Yet each soul has the properties of Perception, knowledge, energy
and bliss as a unique substance at substratum level. It gets modified and may
be embodied into human being, animal/vegetation, demon or deity based on its
deeds. Caste based division is unacceptable. Mahaveer accepts the
interdependency in the material world and need for Live and let live. He
preaches the principle of friendship towards all living being. He emphasizes
the need for tolerance to co-exist with unity in diversity. This is essential
for peace and harmony notwithstanding the huge differences between the living
beings.
9. INSIDE
Seed grows into tree that yields the fruit. Spirituality should
understand, know and lead to right conduct. This requires Inside to outside
methodology. Right vision is the first step. Believer in Non-violence cannot be
cruel to workers, dependents or even to the animal world. Believer of Truth
cannot cheat or render false evidence. Believer of Non-stealing cannot indulge
in adulteration. Believer in Learning cannot give in to perversion. Believer in
Non-attachment has to put his own limits to consumption. He has to exercise
restraints in personal life. Standards of social morality change with times but
the virtues are timeless. True believer bows to the virtuous for the practice
of virtues and not as a ritual.
10. BASICS
1. View
the issue from various aspects in the light of the relativity and probability.
Partial truth is qualified. Avoid looking from one aspect alone ignoring the
varied possibilities and the context.
2. Do
not ignore the unknown based merely on the known.
3. Truth
may be considered relative to the fact and yet understand the other point of
view. Engage into dialogue and not discussion to win your point.
4. Remember
one thought may be partially true relative to another and yet it may be false
in relation to another.
5. Do
not take pride in proving yourself right by exhibiting your own learning and
criticizing others.
11. REVOLUTION
Non-violence is the freedom from attachment and aversion.
Refrain, restraint and austerity leads to equanimity. This is the non-violent
revolution that is sustainable, based on essential equality.
1. Do
not hurt
2. Bear
no animosity
3. Friendship
with all
4. Enslave
not
5. Respect
the freedom of others
6. War
is no solution
12. NON-ACCUMULATION
Non-Attachment to worldly possessions leads to the concept
of trusteeship. The material things do not go with us and therefore the
accumulation of the same beyond comfort level does not make sense. Greed and
pride leads to possessiveness.
1. Minimize
attachment to the body and the family.
2. Observe
refrain and exercise restraint in consumption.
3. Do
not expand for wealth and security as there is no end to it.
4. Do
not dispossess others.
13. ENDEAVOR
1. Happiness
is the function of good and the unhappiness is the result of evil deeds.
2. There
is nothing like all powerful God or Ruler.
3. Scriptures
are the work of human beings and not of the supernatural. Rituals arise from
ignorance.
4. The
Nature functions on its own through the uniting and disjunction of substances.
5. Universe
is the aggregation of motion, rest, living, non-living, time and space.
6. A
person makes progress or falls on account of own deeds..
7. A
person generates own fate but it may be modified through endeavors.
14. BEHAVIOUR
1. Do
not grab the share of others.
2. Protect
the helpless.
3. Educate
others.
4. Help
the sick.
5. Resolve
disputes peacefully.
15. SPIRITUALITY
1. Optimize development based on refrain, restraint and austerity.
2. Rituals may be poison in collusion with money and power.
3. Worship without understanding may lead to superstitions.
4. Person without character may get no solace from religion or its institutions.
5. Peace of mind is achieved through Right vision, right knowledge and right conduct in that order.
1. Optimize development based on refrain, restraint and austerity.
2. Rituals may be poison in collusion with money and power.
3. Worship without understanding may lead to superstitions.
4. Person without character may get no solace from religion or its institutions.
5. Peace of mind is achieved through Right vision, right knowledge and right conduct in that order.
16. LIBERATION
Self-control is the key to success. Leader shows the path
but the followers have to tread it. The republic of Mall and Lichwi celebrated
the liberation by lighting the lamps. Here lies the contradiction amongst the
followers of his path. Worshipping the goddess of wealth by his followers is
the invitation to bondage. The saints do not suffer from such problem who has
already given up the worldly possessions.
17. UNITY
The paradox may be resolved by Non-absolutism. The Caste
system was devised to develop and preserve skills through specialization. The
caste system had competitive advantage in terms of skill formation, technology
transfer and kaizen so long it was by choice and based on aptitude and
capability in evolutionary society. The caste system however got converted into
birth-based division due to powerful families.
All
living beings possessing five senses and intelligence are clubbed into one
caste i.e. human being. Any person may follow the path and get liberated. There
is no class struggle and all can coexist peacefully based on personal deeds.
Mahaveer postulated three instrumentalities namely body, mind and speech and
three modes of doing, getting done and approval. All acts are the combination of one to three
from the group of instrumentality and the group of mode. Essence of equanimity is
the control over the combinations of the modes and instrumentalities.
How can one be averse to diversity if love is the basis of
the essential unity and the common fate of the living entities? The aversion
cannot be the basis for any religion. The soul is an unique entity but has the
common properties of perception, energy and bliss. The progress of one soul in
no way harms another. It gains by cooperation and renders competition
irrelevant. Perception and freedom from passion is more important than cult,
sect or religion of a person. This freedom of choice is available to all human
beings.
The path has to be of the internal purity and with no nexus
with cult, caste, class or creed. With time the proponents of human unity
became the votary of divisiveness. The religion based institutions are left
with no credibility. Anger, greed, ego and deception lead to bondage. The
ritual-oriented followers of the path may not be a good example to emulate. The
gap between practice and principles often create a doubt about the precepts.
The redeeming factor is the technological revolution overtaking the evolution.
The reverse engineering of brain seems to sustain the seemingly empirical
precepts of Mahaveer. Humanity has little choice but to use the precepts as the
corner stone of the great edifice of SINGULARITY when the computer capability exceeds
the brain power.
18. NEED
Time and Tide does not wait. Training for the tide of
technology in tune with the basics has to be an ongoing concern. The Path shown
by Mahaveer is a great framework of environment and ecological concerns.
However the convergence between the technological revolution and the path may
need sustainable training. Saints have exercised tremendous influence over the
laity due to their austerity and the training of the leaders may be the first
step of the voyage. 2X2 Matrix of LEARN & TRAIN may be able to cope up with
the revolutionary technological change expected. Obsolescence planning and
setting up system and process anew may the urgent need of the hour.
19. VIRTUAL
Individualistic philosophers postulate that the human being
can live outside the society. Socialistic philosophers maintain that the
individual and society cannot be separated. Virtual is the third dimension of
the world. The principles of non-absolutism assume importance in this
triangular relationship. Capacities belong to individual yet their
manifestation is in social and virtual world. Individual is different from
society and the virtual world. A person remains an identifiable individual even
while being an important component of the society and the virtual world. A
person builds up relationship for mutual advantage and expands his activities
both in the society and the virtual world. A person has the emotions of love,
joy, fear and frustration which he may not pass on to others. Exchange is the
foundation of the social contract as far as materials are concerned. Emotions
are in the domain of individual and cannot be easily transacted. Web of relationships
exists for the survival and growth of humanity. Emotions cannot be easily
established and therefore misconstrued as unimportant to the material
existence. Individual is a reality with emotions and so is the society in
relation to meaningful livelihood. The scenario may undergo change with the
advent of Singularity. Handling of atomic particles may render abundance of
material resources. Criticality may then shift to information and emotions.
Procreation and
wealth are the twin elements of the current social system. Legal system
attempts to bring about order in the gratification. Religion is the driver of
the social system often to sustain the fiefdom. The economy prevails in the in
socialism and the individual loses the freedom at the hands of the state.
Socialism controls the liberty in the name of larger good that does not happen.
The person at the helm of affairs cares about his continuation of power over
the system and material self-interest rather than larger good. Individual
suffers emotionally. This leads to credibility gap, immorality, exploitation
and corruption. Democratic system replaced the dictator with hegemony of the
party in the hands of the select few. Garnering of votes for the power becomes
a major concern, rather than good of the people in consonance with the change
in technology. The democratic system suffers from inaptitude, ineffectiveness
and inaction. Power becomes an end in itself and power-brokers prevail.
Mahaveer does not restrict himself to any social, economic or political
system. He understands the ever changing nature of the same. His building block
is individual and its nature. It is substance based, with properties and ongoing
modifications. Emotion prevails and is the touchstone for the individual. The
criterion for the spirituality is consciousness that liberates. The role of
spirituality is not the management of society with reference to procreation and
wealth. His path is for the purification of everlasting soul that is in bliss.
His path is good from ecological and environment concerns more by accident
rather than design.
Violence
leads to bondage for the individual and therefore may be avoided. Similarly
consumption, consumerism and self-love are obstacles in the path of liberation and
best be avoided. His focus is on individual and the benefit to the scarcity
oriented society is accidental. The capitalism is unjust, socialism fetters,
democracy paralyzes. Mahaveer has the focus on self-transformation. He
emphasizes compassion without pity. Morality standards and Values change with
persons, times and region but virtues are ageless.
20. PROBLEMS
Classifying the procreation, wealth and values as religion
with universality result in the following problems:
1. Ritual,
tradition and custom are often ignorance based and rendered irrelevant with
technology.
2. Poor
and weak are exploited the name of fate.
3. Fatalism
induces individual lethargy.
4. War
and violence is perpetuated in the name of religion by vested interests.
5. Divisiveness
is encouraged.
6. Desire,
doubt, disgust and delusion prevail and hinder awakening and progress.
7. Institutions
control the individual for own power and the search for truth are handicapped.
