Truth “for Ourselves” and “for Others” – Jaina Version of Religious Polymorphism

Abstract

This article addresses the problem of polymorphism in relation to Jainism – a philosophical and religious tradition that emerged in India in the 5th century BCE and continues to this day. The author draws attention to the initial existence within the Jain community of two forms of religious practice – jinakalpa (“the Jina way of life”) and sthavirakalpa (“the elders’ way of life”), which presupposes the recognition of the legitimacy of at least behavioral dimor­phism. In the area of theoretical reflection, polymorphism is described using the example of various interpretations of the main tool of Jain epistemology – the “theory of non-unilater­alism” (anekāntavāda) and its component – the “theory of points of view” (nayavāda), which has undergone significant reinterpretation in the 20th and 21st centuries. Supporting the idea of Jain “horizontal” inclusivism put forward by W. Halbfass as opposed to Hindu “vertical” inclusivism, the author of the article traces the evolution of anekāntavāda in the history of Jainism and comes to the conclusion that, in order to adapt their tradition to changing con­ditions, modern Jains are transforming a local, narrowly confessional doctrine, initially used as a tool for constructing their own identity in the field of controversy, into an instrument of global human dialogue, which allows them to find common ground with representatives of other communities and fit Jainism into the context of intercultural philosophy.