Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics

SR No.: 001619
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Epistemology
File Size: 8 MB

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Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics liberated soul comes to be possessed of the qualities of the Lord, including omniscience.
OMNISCIENCE OF THE LIBERATED IN THE DUALISTIC VEDANTA IS LIMITED
It seems to us, however, that the omniscience thus attributed to the liberated soul by the dualistic schools of the Vedānta is not or the same nature of extent with the omniscience attributed to the Iśvara by the Nyāya, the Vaišeşika, the theistic Sārkhya, the Yoga and the Vedānta. The omniscience of the latter is eternal, unfettered and all-embracing. It is, however, the very nature of the Jiva to have but a limited range of apprehension and this limited capacity of the Jīva is not radically changed even when it attains liberation. Accordingly it would probably not be correct to say that all the cosmic things and phenomena of all times and places, beginningless and endless, are ever present in the omniscience of the liberated Jiva, as 'now' and 'here simultaneously. Even when a soul associates itself with the Lord in its emancipated state, its powers are still limited in comparison with the powers of the latter. A liberated soul, for instance, has no power to interfere in or modify the “Jagat-Vyāpāra" i.e. the creation of the world, which is the sole prerogative of the Iśvara. It is true that a liberated soul comes to be possessed of many supernatural powers; it can go anywhere it likes.
'सर्वेषु लोकेषु कामचारो भवति।' छान्दोग्योपनिषत् । ८।२५।२ But from the word, Kāma, it is manifest that the power of unrestricted movement is dependent upon his desire. Similarly, it is not true that all the things and the phenomena of the world, past, present future, subtle, near, distant etc. are simultaneously and actually and always present in the consciousness of the emancipated Jiva. Its supernatural attainment consists in the fact that unlike a soul in bondage it can know them whenever it likes. Let us explain the position by an example. It is not a fact that his ancestors are always present before a liberated being or in his mindWhenever he wants to see them, they appear before him