Conflict Resolution

Championing Anekantvad

by Sudhir M. Shah

Conflict• Friction, disagreement, or discord arising within a

group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one or more members of another group.

• A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.

Types of Conflicts

Main Cause of Conflicts

• Lack of respect• Lack of trust• Struggle for power, property etc…

Religion – Uniting or dividing?

• Religion, as the most powerful of cultural expressions, has also been the greatest source of conflicts around the world. If it continues to be a source of disharmony among human beings, the planet would certainly be better off without it.

All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence“Parasparopgraho Jivanam”

Ancient Jain scriptural aphorism

“I do not want people to just tolerate each other, I want them to understand and respect each other”

Respect• A respectful attitude acknowledges other person’s rights,

wishes and needs• It yields to another’s wishes and needs, not out of fear or

pity, but through acknowledging their validity.• Respect acknowledges the value and importance of who a

person is, as well as their needs.• Respect is the attitude that motivates one to truly serve

another because he or she deserves it.

Mahavir (599-527 b.c.)

Authoritative

AbsolutismDogma

Blind

Faith

The most revolutionary and radical thinkers of all times

Accept The Challenge

• Mahavir challenges us to discipline ourselves, to bring out the inherent qualities of our soul. To be fearless and free from dogma, superstitions and ceremonies.

• Instead of accepting this challenge, we sometimes get tangled up in ritualistic activities and gross codes of conduct.

An alternate epistemology

• A theory of knowledge that can support dialogue and negotiation among people of diverse perspectives and claims.

What is Anekantvad?

What is Anekantvad?

An(non) ek(one) ant(end) väd(ness)• Simply put, avoiding a single absolute conclusion or non-absolute thinking

• It is a doctrine of multifacetedness of reality

What is Anekantvad?

• Emphasizing the limits of ordinary knowledge, Jain philosophy presents the theory that truth is relative to the perspective (naya) from which it is known.

What is Anekantvad?

• It is respect for the views of the other Thereby establishing a basis for reconciling

conflicting ideological claims.

Anekantvad ( Non-absolutism)

It leads to the acceptance of the fact that though I think my truth is right; I acknowledge that so might be yours.

This is stepping back from the obduracy of “my truth, faith or religion is better than yours”.

Anekantvad ( Non-absolutism)

As a principle of non-dogmatism, Anekantvad rejects one-sided (ekantika) views

Existence (soul) is permanent Existence is constantly changing

Anekantvad ( Non-absolutism)

Epistemological respect for the view of others, however, is not relativism.

It does not mean conceding that all arguments and all view are equal.

It means that logic and evidence determine which views are workable; in what respect and to what extent.

Syadvad( Logic of Relativity)

All knowledge claims are only tentative“X may be Y” or “X is Y under stated conditions” rather than “X IS Y”

Similarity with Einstein’s theory of Relativity

“To deny the co-existence of mutually conflicting viewpoints about a thing would mean to deny the true nature of reality”

Acharang Sutra

Project Anekant

Conflict Resolution/Problem SolvingCreating Mutual understanding & RespectNon-violent communicationTraining in listening without judgmentUnity – Inclusiveness Training

Conflict Resolution

RespectWin-win

Abundance

Listening Without Judgment

Recognize Filters

Nonviolent Communication

1. Observation2. Feeling3. Need4. Request

Inclusiveness Training

Seeking alternate viewsCelebrating diversity

Examples

…use it wisely

Words Have Power

…WORDS

Conflicts begin with…

…Thoughts

Respectful Communication Training

…Action

Akbar Birbal Story

Practice in daily life!

Don’t forget the BASICS