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 91

Prākrta Canons : 69
past failed to keep pace with the present. The Jaina school will specially be discussed here in this context.
The western evaluative practice is generally not appreciated in the Orient though the oldest literature like Ācāranga and Samayasāra tell us that doubt, examination and conscientious thinking are the methods for proper knowledge and growth. Viveka-cūdāmani states that canonical attachment is an obstruction of knowledge like the attachment to body and worldly affairs. It is on this basis that our canons have become so important and they will remain so in the scholar's view for the times to come. They indicate the scientific approach for obtaining growth of knowledge. But, apparantly, this approach was rare in early days and completely lost in middle ages due to the following facts :
(i) The concept of all-knowing and omniscient was nurtured in parallel with the divine origin of the scriptures of the Vedic system. This was a large improvement over the divinity concept.
(ii) The concept (a) involved the idea that all-present, past and future is known by and through the divinity or omniscient. There is nothing left to be known. The process of knowledge became static one like a pond rather than an everflowing
river.
(iii) The concept ( a ) also led to the idea of the infinite authenticity of past and non-credibility of the current scholarship. Thus, stagnancy in conceptual and realistic growth appeared.
(iv) Due to super-authenticity vested in the all-knowers, every subsequent scholar, ācārya based his credibility on them, and often kept mum even about his identity and the period in his works. He merged his identity in the Attained and the early scholars did not even mention their names. It is from counterreferences that many authorships are ascertained. This tendency may be a quality of submission out of devotional tradition. However, this trend of early Jaina ācāryas is not to the liking of modern scholars.