Jaina Concept of Omniscience

SR No.: 001547
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramjee Singh
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 258
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Knowledge
File Size: 17 MB

Page 180

IS KNOWLEDGE ABSOLUTE ? 167 empirically direct knowledge produced by the sense organs and mind. 11
Pramāņa and Naya represent roughly the absolute and the relative characters of knowledge respectively, and taken together they constitute knowledge. So constituted, it becames non-absolutistic knowledge. A closer study of the theory of Praniāna will reveal a relational structure of knowledge. If Pramiņa is defined as the knowledge of an object in all its aspects and since "an object has innumerable characteristics,"18 it implies that if we know one object in all its innumerable characteristics, we know all objects. 13 The universe is an interrelated whole. Hence, right knowledge of even one object will lead to the knowledge of the entire universe. This shows that our knowledge is intrinsically relative in character, This relativism is realistic. "It not only asserts a plurality of determinate truths but also takes each truth to be an indetermination of alternative truths". 14 The so many truths are really alternate truths; so it is a mistake to attempt at finding one absolute truth or even at having one cognition of the plurality of the truths. If knowing is a unity, known is a plurality, the objective category being distinction or togetherness.” If finally, knowledge as the object, refers to the known, the known must present an equivalent of this, of relation or reference, a relation and its content."15 Intellectualistic abstractionism has to be given up and we should try to dehumanise the ideal
11 Manikyanandi, Pariksa-mukham, II. 45; Anantavīrya, Ibid., p. 14;
Hemacandra, Ibid., I. 1. 21; Vädideva Sūri, Ibid., II. 4.5; Dharmabhūşana, Ibid., p. 33; Akalanka, Tattvārtha-Raja-vārttika, I. 14;
Sthananga Sūtra, II. 1.71. 12 cp. Haribhadra, Sad-darśana-sammuccaya (with Guņaratna's cɔmmen.
tary), 55; Siddhasena Divakara, Nyāyāvatāra, 29. 13 Ācārānga Sutra, 1. 2.4; Kundakunda, Pravacana-sāra, I. 48–49. 14 K. C. Bhattācārya, “ The Jaina Theory of Anekantavāda ", Jaina
Antiquary, Vol. IX, No. 1, p. 10, 15 Ibid., pp. 10-11.