Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

SR No.: 001670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 608
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Science, & Religion
File Size: 9 MB

Page 157

Canonical Techniques of Objective Study : 135
ratability ( Bhāvaparita, Caram, Antakriya, bhāva-siddhikā), Knowledge, Avadhi, Trangressions (Pratisevana ), Loss of Gains (Upasampat-han ), Right faith (Outlook,
Darsana ), Feeling-bonding. Cognitive Processes for Objective Studies
The different aspective studies are to be carried out through some cognitive processes. Bhagavati-sūtra and Rājapraśniya are the early canons mentioning five types of cognitions - Sensory (Mati ), Scriptural ( Sruta ), Clairvoyance (Avadhi ), Telepathy (Manan-paryaya ) and Absolute (Kevala ). The major objective studies are made and catalysed by sensory and scriptural cognitions. There is quite a good description about them in canonical and post-canonical literature. The sensory knowledge about objects is most important and is saia to consist of five stages shown in Table 5. These stages are virtually equivalent to the current five scientific steps for obtaining knowledge mentioned in Table 5 too. This makes it clear that the canonical or post-canonical period has been utilising the same processes as used today. Moreover, despite the fact that there was no instrumentation in those days there was high intellectual acuteness as shown by classification of sensory knowledge in 336-456 types'. It was agreed that the knowledge will be exact when senses, mind, light and other auxilliary causes are normal. This is the basis of canonical descriptions about the physical phenomena. It is, therefore, highly interesting to compare the canonical and current descriptions. It could be expected that there should not be much difference in both types of descriptions due to similar processes being adopted. Jaina has, however, shown that the canonical descriptions are more of physical and qualitative nature. Barring few cases, there seems to be not much fineness there. There seems to be sufficient gap between these two descriptions. However, L. C. Jainal2 has shown that historically, the