12 Happy Chickens

I was forwarded this article from my Coop America group and I thought I would share it. I thought it was something interesting to ponder as we welcome in the New Year.

What the West can learn from the rest
Ode Magazine, October 2007
#9 Non-violence, India
One world, many truths
By Satish Kumar

The most important thing for the West to learn is that there is no one truth. There are many truths. You have a truth. I have a truth. Both could be true. Take a tree. A botanist sees a particular species. The carpenter sees wood for furniture. A religious person sees a sacred tree. A poet is inspired to write a poem and a painter sees a painting. One tree, many views. Many truths—all equally true.
        Truth is not important. Anekant — “no one truth” — teaches the Jain religion of India. Without fixed truth there are no dogmas.
        However, in the West, and particularly in science and religion, truth is supreme. The West needs believers. Hence the disagreements, the fighting, the wars and the conflicts. The Jains don’t need believers. They seek happiness and practice friendship, respect, tolerance and harmony. Nonviolence is supreme; truth is secondary. And seeking the impossible one ultimate truth, with all its divisive effects, is no the primary objective in life.
        Believing is temporary. You may change your mind. Today’s truth may not be tomorrow’s truth. Truth changes. The practice of nonviolence is enduring and universal.