ABSTRACT
The capacity for many-sided thinking is part of the ancient culture of the Jains. It is closely associated with Ahimsa, for the practice of non-injury arises from respect for the viewpoint of each life form. Aparigraha, one of main themes of this study, is also linked to many-sidedness because the renunciation of unnecessary wealth is based on seeing oneself, one's achievements and possessions in a wider context. The doctrine of many-sidedness remains mysterious to non-Jains because it is usually studied as an abstract theory and its tenets can seem complex esoteric. It is rarely assessed in context of everyday life, including the business affairs of Jain communities. This omission is unfortunate because the many-sided position is at once theoretical and practical. 'Many-sidedness' is, perhaps, the frequent because it expresses the positive and inclusive aspects of the doctrine. Many-sidedness is the definition favoured here, since it is readily applicable to economic and political activity, despite having potentially radical implications for both.
