Jainism Perspective on Condemning Others...

Q3. Why do Jains concentrate all their efforts in saving minutest bugs, yet ignore violence to human beings such as sometimes condemning other Jain sects, and considers other religion Gods as Ku-devs and Gurus as Ku-gurus etc.?

A3. This is a very perceptive question related to conduct/achar of Jain laypeople. Yes, some Jain laypeople might be carrying out this kind of behavior. However, at the same time, all of us have also witnessed Jain laypeople, who have truly internalized basic Jain values / principles and they live by those values starting with their immediate family, relatives, community, animals, plants, environment etc. Therefore, as fellow Jains, our primary responsibilities are:

• Understand, internalize and practice Jain values and principles.
• Do not take part in any behavior that is contradicting with our basic Jain values and principles.
• Understand potential root causes for such mindset and behavior and address them with integrity, honesty and humility so that it does not propagate in the future generations.

Jainism preaches Ahimsa (Non-violence) as well as Anekantvad (Non-absolutism). Now, let’s observe and discuss this kind of behavior from Jainism’s guiding principles perspective:

Ahimsa perspective:  

Jainism believes Ahimsa should be practiced through our thoughts, words and actions towards all living beings (Of one, two, three, four or five senses), in our best power. So, this explains the Jain follower’s action with “Ahimsa” mindset take extra efforts of saving a little bug’s life. However, at the same time and in the situation from this question, these same Jain followers may forget another very important aspect of Ahimsa - to follow Ahimsa through words and thoughts as well towards all living beings. Condemning other Jain sects and other religions, preachers, gurus and followers of these Jain sects or other religion is considered Himsa towards 5-sense human beings through words and thoughts.

This contradicts with the basic guiding principles of Jainism and is considered “Mithyatva” (ignorance/false belief) of that Jain follower. Most importantly, we should note that one doing the condemning might be doing so from rooted cultural upbringings, surrounding, culture, media, peer pressure etc. and not from the understanding of basic religious principles.

Anekantvad Perspective:

Anekantvad is one of the other basic guiding principles of Jainism that encourages acceptance of relativism and pluralism. According to this doctrine, truth and reality are perceived differently from different points of view, and no single point of view is the complete truth. Jainism teaches non-judgement through the principle of Anekantvad.

(Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anekantavada)

Anekantvad is multiplicity of viewpoint or pluralism, Ekantvada is dogmatic viewpoint or Singularism.  It is all about how we view and form an opinion about a given object or a situation. Truth (Existent) is expressed in many ways. One cannot make a definite statement about Truth or Existent, each statement is true in its own limited sense.  To understand the nature of Existent, one requires the vision of seeing an entity from all direction, which is Anekantvad.

In regard to other religions, if these religions offer individuals a path to reducing their own kashayas (anger, ego, greed, deceit) and provide a peaceful way towards happiness, then that is a positive thing for all of us.

Again, it is important that we continue to focus on the core intent of Jainism, which is to eliminate our Mithyatva and reduce our kashayas, by practicing right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. This way we will break free from the cycle of life and death.

If other religions, scholars, teachers, provide a means for individuals to make positive progress, then that should not be judged or condemned just because it is a different way of practicing. It is our ego in action when we make negative comments about other religions and such actions have no place in this kind of context.

Let’s reflect and learn from Mahavir Swami’s life:

Mahavir Swami was born in Kshatriya (warrior) family, fought against injustices and malaises of class-based society. He had some disciples from untouchable class and his first Gandhar (disciple) was a Brahmin. His life is an example of holistically practicing Jain values. Nowhere in his teaching or lifestyle, will we see the condemning of other religion or their gurus.

There are many such examples in recent history and there are Jain followers in today’s world who are fighting for equality in society (regardless of religious belief) either as journalists, social workers, as community organizers etc. There might be some individuals carrying out actions that are not concert with Jain values and we should be able to correct these individuals, but to assert that all Jains are involved in such non-harmonious view is not true either.

Now, let’s introspect on the potential underlying root causes for such mindset and behavior in some Jain laypeople:

• Some of the Jain lay-community practice religion based on sermons/vyakhyan from ascetics and by blindly following traditional rituals. Most of the time they do without pondering on purpose, reasons behind them. Sermons accepted by faith alone and not testing with their own intellect, reasoning/experience, results into very little internalization of Jain values and principles. Eventually, that could become a mundane daily chore and a person becomes dogmatics instead of an involved activity that brings happiness and value to their life.
• The ascetics practice Ahimsa as Mahavrat and do not hurt even minutest bugs. Some ascetics preach that to the lay community, instead of Ahimsa Anuvrat of laypeople (ref - review Q2) and how laypeople should live a life with minimum violence. If the Jain values are not truly understood or internalized, then how does one define minimum violence in their environment without understanding and internalization of the Jain principles and values? 
• Jain ascetics are mostly sectarian Jains. Some ascetics may not intentionally teach respect for other Jain sects and other religions. Sometimes in order to promote their sect, it may appear that they are degrading other Jain sects and condemning other religions. Jainism is a religion of humility and not egoist statements like, our religion is the only best or the most supreme religion. 

Hence, for the situation in this question, the traditional laypeople interpret saving a minute bug is a Jain religion and they do not have any understanding that insulting or condemning other non-Jain human being or other religion is a violation of basic Jain principles.

Jain scriptures indicate that any activities we do that helps to eliminate Mithaytva and reduce our Kashayas is considered the Tirthankara’s preaching.

In summary,

The underlying values of all religions are to live in harmony with all living beings and help each other, with that we do not have any right to condemn other religions. At the same time, if there are any non-harmonious or harmful efforts, then we all have the responsibility to act and protect, without Kashayasarising within us.

When looking at other religions / cultures / sects etc. we must think, "I may not understand what others are doing, but it may be helping them reduce their Kashayas (anger, ego, greed, deceit)." We do not know what transformation is happening inside the other person. We may not agree with it but it might be right for others.

Any activity of body, mind and speech, which removes Mithyatva and reduces Kashaya is religion for us. For example, if reading any other religion book helps reduce my Kashayas then that is fine. Reducing Kashayas makes us Jain and by condemning others, we are actually building up our ego and increasing our kashayas. We should focus on our spiritual well-being, withdraw from violence and should respect all Souls and religions.