JAIN VISHVA BHARATI UNIVERSITY
The Theme for Round-Table Discussion
at JVBU Ladnun
from February 21st to 23rd, 2008:
The Role of Jainism in Evolving a New Paradigm of Philosophy
At the present juncture of time humanity is passing through turmoil and facing a crisis, which is manifold and multi-dimensional. Humanity is stationed at a crossroad and is in a fix. On the one hand there are marvels of science and technology that are bewitching and bewildering, on the other, there are value-erosions, moral degeneration, and different types of deprivations leading to tensions, strife and sufferings. The ratiocinative human mind is faced with a dilemma as to how to respond to the present scenario. There is no doubt about the tremendous material progress but has it been able to usher in the aspired peace and the desired prosperity at the physical, mental and spiritual levels? A large number of people are abject poverty-stricken. Some people do have enormous means of material and mental comforts but do they also not feel the evanescence of all this? The crux of the situation is that the present-day distracted humanity is suffering from exhaustion of spirit and languishing in the narrow and rigid confinements of ego-centricism, parochialism and disastrous materialistic consumerism. So long as one is entangled in the labyrinth of materialism one does not feel the pinch of it. But the moment one gets out of it one is exhausted and lost. It is a paradoxical feeling of having and not-having, of likes and dislikes, of seeking and shunning.
Besides this the problems arising due to Globalisation are also compelling the thinkers of today to seek for new philosophy of life and the world. In today's world members of remote clans have now become our immediate neighbours, in both actual and virtual realities. With the emergence of such a global society arises the increasing need for a global ethics and intercultural dialogue. Traditional ethical systems were developed primarily to deal with human relationships within a particular ethnic, religious and cultural group. In this global society, however, we are more and more interacting with people of different ideals, ideas, cultures, religions and customs. The new paradigm of philosophy in the form of Global ethics of mutuality and interdependence, of reciprocity and Inter-culturality can enable us to deal with such entirely new set of interpersonal relationships in an appropriate way.
The ideas of global ethics, inter-cultural dialogue, equality and peaceful co-existence unfold themselves in the compassionate, rational and symbiotic Jain ethics of tolerance, inter-connectivity and reciprocity, and in the basic non-absolutistic postulates which preserve unity and diversity without undermining the identity of the whole or of the part. The Jain tradition is an important tributary of this mainstream idea which found sanctuary in the heritage of India and which appears as the motif in the mosaic of Indian culture. Its meditation technique is also peculiar and scientific to bring human hearts close to each other.
Our religious or philosophical traditions are diverse but, as with the natural environment, we are discovering the global interdependence of human hearts and minds. We are required to participate in the modern experience of interfaith exchange, which marks a new phase in the human quest to discover our full humanity. To achieve this goal Jainism has given the principles like Ahimsa (global Non-violence), Anekanta (Multi-dimensional approach to truth), Syadvada (contextual and situational approach to reality and knowledge) and Iccha-parimana (Limitation of wants and possessions) to share with the world. Each of the principles has power to give new shape to present ways of living and thinking and bring people of different cultures, traditions, philosophies, ideologies, and values under one umbrella without removing their particular identity. I believe this is the purpose for organizing the World Congress of Philosophy of 2008.
Today, in the time of crises of diverse type, Jainism can play an important role to evolve a new paradigm of philosophy, which can fulfil the contemporary needs and aspirations and can show a bright and beneficial path of progress to the world. With this hope and expectation the Round-Table is proposed.
Let the participants in the XXII World Congress of Philosophy (WCP 2008) seriously deliberate over the theme of "Rethinking Philosophy Today" and evolve practicable solutions to the global problems and let the contribution of Jainism be a part of that noble enterprise.
More informations: JVBU - National Seminar And International Round-Table Session.pdf