Gems of Jainism

SR No.: 001803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 142
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Articles, & Religion
File Size: 8 MB

Page 42

Types of Knowledge (Jnana) in Jainism
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particularities (visesa) in which there is no grasping of details is called darsana?” “Darsana or sensation is of four kinds - Visual (Cakshusa) Non-visual (acakshusa), Clairvoyant (avadhi dersana) and Pure (Kevala)
“Darshana is said to consist in the sensation of the generality of objects in which the forms and particulars specification are not recognised?". The first two kinds of the four are sensouous and both consists in the consciousness that the eyes and other sense organs are affected. The last two kinds of sensation viz: Clairvoyant and Pure are of the super-normal type. Out of these two the Clairvoyant or Avadhi darsana is the sensation of the mysterious parts or aspects of material things. The Pure or Keval Darsana consists in sensing all things of the universe.
The process of understanding becomes more complicated and subtle when it is cognition or Jnana. The Jaina scholars divide cognition or Knowledge into two divisions viz:- Valid Knowledge and Fallacious knowledge. The valid knowledge is of five types viz:-Senseous (mati or abhinibodhikä), Authoritative (Sruta), Clairvoyant (Avadhi), Telepathic (manah-paryāya), and Pure (kevals). Kumati, Kusruta and Vibhang are the three fallacious forms of Mati, Sruta and Avadhi Jnana respectively.
Thus, according to Jaina theory of knowledge, cognition is of eight kinds, out of which five kinds are of the valid knowledge and three, of the fallacious knowledge. Since the destruction of karmic veils and the higher degree of purity of the soul is possible through the valid knowledge, the importance lies not in the fallacious species of knowledge but in the valid knowledge. Let us see each of these five species or types of valid knowledge, in brief. Types of Knowledge
Cognition or knowledge is of five types:- Mati, Sruta, Avadhi, Manah paryaya and Keval.
Mati - Jhana or Sensuous knowledge: is ordinary cognition, obtained by normal functioning of sense perception. It is based on