Samayasara

SR No.: 001607
Original Sutra Author: Kundkundacharya
Author: Hiralal Jain, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1944
Total Pages: 370
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Philosophy
File Size: 8 MB

Page 128

INTRODUCTION
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the erroneous views for this forms the foundation of Advaita, which forms the central doctrine of his commentary.
Sankara and Amsticandra : We mentioned above that Sankara was acquainted with Sri Kundakunda and Amộtacandra. We refer to this fact in connection with Sankara's distinction between the Vyāvahārika and Paramarthika point of view. We have here to mention the fact that the doctrine of Adhyāsa is also peculiar to Sankara. Adhyāsa is the technical term he used to denote the confusion between self and non-self, a confusion due to Avidyā or Ajñāna. This term Adhyāsa is not found in any of the philosophical writings prior to Sankara. Probably Savikara took a hint from Amstacandra who freely uses this concept in his commentary called Atmakhyāti on Śrī Kundakunda's Samayasára. Probably Amstacandra and Salikara must have lived in the same century, Amstacandra being slightly older than Sankara. The language of Atmakhyati is very similar to Sarkara's Śārīraka Bhāşya. This suggestion is made because Sankara himself speaks on one occasion that he is influenced by one Dravida Ācārya. Probably this refers to Amộtacandra---the great Commentator on Samayasära. The following quotations from Atmakhyāti will clearly bear out our suggestion that Sankara and Amstacandra were of the same age and that the former was acquainted with the writings of Amộtacandra especially in his commentary Atmakhyati.
"Ajñāna or ignorance causes Adhyāsa 'or confusion of the intellect. On account of this, thirsty animals run towards mirage to quench their thirst thinking it is a lake full of water.
Again the same Adhyāsa or confusion caused by ignorance frighten men is dusk at the sight of a rope and make them run away from it thinking it is a snake.
"Similarly on account of this confusion caused by ignorance men falsely identify their pure and unruffled nature of the Soul with the body and imagine that they are the author of the various psycho-physical activities caused by impure karmas, just as the numerous waves in the ocean are caused by atmospheric pressure while the ocean itself remains calm and unruffled. But Jñana or knowledge produces discrimination between the self and the non-self just like the harsa bird is able to separate water from milk. Unruffled self firm in its pure nature is able to understand that it is not the author of the various impure psycho-physical changes caused by an alien agency.".
ĀTMAKHYATI.