According to anekantavada, every entity has three aspects: substance (dravya), quality (guna), and mode (paryaya). Substance is the underlying essence of an entity, which remains constant and unchanging. Quality is the attribute or characteristic of an entity, which can be multiple and diverse. Mode is the state or condition of an entity, which is constantly changing and transforming. Thus, an entity is both permanent and impermanent, one and many, depending on the level of analysis and the perspective of the observer.
Anekantavada also implies that any statement or judgment about reality is conditional and relative, and not absolute or universal. This is expressed by the doctrine of syadvada, which states that any proposition can be affirmed, denied, or both, depending on the context and the conditions. Syadvada uses a seven-fold scheme of logical alternatives, called saptabhangi, to qualify any assertion. For example, a statement like "the pot is blue" can be modified by adding the word syat (meaning "may be" or "in some sense") in various ways, such as:
- Syat, the pot is blue (from one perspective, the pot is blue)
- Syat, the pot is not blue (from another perspective, the pot is not blue)
- Syat, the pot is both blue and not blue (from a third perspective, the pot is both blue and not blue)
- Syat, the pot is indescribable (from a fourth perspective, the pot is indescribable)
- Syat, the pot is blue and indescribable (from a fifth perspective, the pot is blue and indescribable)
- Syat, the pot is not blue and indescribable (from a sixth perspective, the pot is not blue and indescribable)
- Syat, the pot is blue, not blue, and indescribable (from a seventh perspective, the pot is blue, not blue, and indescribable)
The purpose of syadvada is to show the limitations of human language and logic, and to encourage a humble and tolerant attitude towards different opinions and beliefs. It also aims to prevent dogmatism and fanaticism, and to promote dialogue and harmony among different schools of thought.
Anekantavada is a distinctive contribution of Jainism to the world of philosophy and religion. It reflects the Jain values of non-violence, pluralism, and intellectual ahimsa (non-harm). It also challenges the conventional notions of truth and reality, and invites us to explore the complexity and diversity of existence.
