Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals

SR No.: 001656
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 210
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Biology
File Size: 13 MB

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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
elaboration on their logic and pointing out about the involvement of capacity factor in the issue. The logic has also been turned down on the basis of polyviewistic approach and the contradiction with the basic concepts of the disputants. It has also been pointed if 'milk into milk' type transformation is not accepted, there will be non-transformability and loss of the ways of the world and flaw of confusion.
(e)
Some contend logically that consciousness cannot be a differentia as there is no existence of the definable soul because it has no originating cause like the hair-crest of the frog and also it is imperceptible like the horns of the hare. The syllogisms are infested with (i) fallacies of contradiction, inconclusion and unprovenness with respect to the middle term and (ii) deficiencies in illustrations. Secondly, the Jainas postulate that any entity exists with respect to its own aspect and it does not exist with respect to the aspect of an alien object. Besides logic, the receiving by senses, knowership and the feeling of 'I-ness' etc. are other common proofs for the existence of soul. The consciousness is not momentary because of the possibility of the loss of memory etc. Hence, It is qualified as the proper non-alienable differentia or the living.
2.
The word 'of the living' (Jivasya) should be supplied here from aphorism 2.1 so that the aphorism should have the proper meaning.
3. The knowledge or consciousness do not form the nature of Sankhyan 'Prakṛti' as, otherwise, it would mean all its forms to have these properties. However, it is not observed.
The consciousness or livingness cannot be caused by the specific fourelemental combination of Cārvākās as these elements do not possess the power of consciousness. How they could produce it? The toxicity of hemp and thornapple is a natural phenomena rather than accidental one.
5.
The functional consciousness is the only uncommon differentia of the living. Hence, it has been mentioned in the aphorism 2.8 despite its many other qualities.
4.
6. The volitions of the living mentioned in aphorism 2.1 do not form the sole differentia of the living as the first four volitions are accidental due to karmic causes. Moreover, they are not found to be always possessed by the living. However, the inherent volitons may form differentia for the living as they are natural and all-timal. Out of the three of them as in 2.7, the last two are such which are not easily identifiable. Hence, it is only the livingness (or consciousness) which can form the primary differentia for the living. It is this property which has been mentioned in the form of functional consciousness in 2.8. However, the other volitions may form the secondary differentia of the living. Thus, all the 52 varieties of volition are secondary differentia while the 'livingness' is the primary one.
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