Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House

Jaina Ethics

The metaphysical Reality or the Truth of logical coherence must remain merely a theoretical possibility unless it is translated into good of life through right-living. In fact, the Reality or Truth is supra-logical and can be better realised by living it practically than by speculating on it intellectually. Indian philosophy in general, Jainism in particular, therefore, ascribes the supreme place, of all the branches of philosophy, to ethics. Silanka, a great commentator on Jaina Agamas, considers all the branches of philosophy only subsidiary to and meant for ethics. Yet there is no work, written on the lines of modern research, dealing with the Jaina view of life in its entirety. The present work is a humble attempt to cover up that lacuna. The author has adopted a synthetic view of things, while making comparisons and emphasised the unity existing in the diversity of Indian thinking in the diversity of Indian thinking. This is in keeping with the traditional Jaina way of looking at problems. Syadavada which has become almost a synonym for Jainism teaches us that the same truth could be differently expressed without involving us in any real contradiction.