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

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ARGUMENTS BASED ON..
and the Jainas and the Buddhist logicians on the other. Continuing their objections, it is worthwhile to consider their claim that existence of omniscient person has not been proved by any one of the five means of cognition (pramānas), namely, perception (pratyakşa), inference (anumāna ) verble testimony (sabda), analogy (upamāna) and presumption (arthüpatti). Ard if it fails within the scope of non-cognition (anupalabdhi), one can infer only its non-existence (abhāva). On the other hand, the Jaina and Buddhist logicians have given strong rejoinders to their objections. All this discussion95 constitutes vast logical literature spread in various works, of course, containing of differences of details. I shall examine their arguments and also make my own comments wherever possible.
(A). Arguments Based on Perception (Praiyaksa) Sense-perception refers only to the deinite objects of the senses coningiato contact with sense-organs and xeisting in the present tin 3.90 Aj suci, by itself, it cannot bring about omniscience. One cannot perceive the omniscient person because his perception cannot bring about the cognition of him, as he does not forin an object of such cognition.97
Against the abive objection, the Jainas ask: Does perception annul the idea of omniscience with regard to a parti
95 Kumārila, Ibid. II. 150-158; Prabhācandra, Nyāya-kumuda-candra.
Vol. I, pp. 88-97, Pranaya-ka nala--märtan la, pp. 247-265; Anantavirya, Ibid., pp. 85-99; Anantakirti, BỊhat and Laghu-sarvajña-siddhi, pp. 107-204; Vidyananda, Aşta-sanasri, pp. 4471, Apta-parik şā, pp. 206-239; Tattvartha-śloka-vārtiikam, I. 29. 1-39; Akalanka, Siddhiviniscaya, (ch. VIII); Santarakṣita, Ibid., Ch. XXVI; Ratnakirti, Sarva jña-siddhi, in Ratnakirti-nibandhavali.
96 Kumārila. Ibid., II. 113-15; Prabhāchandra, Nyaya-kumuda-candra.
Vol. I, p. 86. 97 See Anantakirti, Laghu-sarvajña-siddhi, p. 113, BỊhat sarva jñasiddhi,
p. 130; * Anantavirya, Ibid., p. 85; Akalanka, Siddhiviniscaya, VIII. 2; Ratnakirti, Ibid., p. 5; V. R. Sūri, Abhidhana Rajendral, Vol. VIII, p. 568; śāntarakṣita, Ibid., 186 (with comy).