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Chapter 1 - Sutra 34-35
67. The reason for this distinction is simple. The knowledge disposition of a person is generally incomplete, while the sense of self and attachment are generally distinct. Therefore, when a person thinks about a particular matter, they are motivated to regard that thought as final and complete. This motivation leads them to lose patience in understanding others’ viewpoints, ultimately settling for a partial understanding of the truth of the matter. Such settling causes conflict between those who hold various true perspectives on the same thing, and as a result, the door to complete and true knowledge is closed.
When someone with a single vision considers a subject like the soul to be absolutely true, they dismiss other perspectives that may hold opposing yet valid views as invalid. In this manner, one perspective dismisses the other, and the same occurs in further disagreements. Consequently, inequality and disputes arise in the realm of equanimity. Therefore, institutions have been established to open the door to truth and complete knowledge and to resolve disputes; through this, it is suggested that any thinker should first examine the paternal thought before declaring it valid to ensure whether that thought stands the test of all proofs. This suggestion embodies the uniqueness of Jain philosophy through the lens of argumentation.