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The Axioms of Non-absolutism 31
sevenfold predication ? If the reply is in the affirmative, the predication of negation (that is, the second among the seven propositions) would be a kind of absolutism. And in this way non-absolutism(relativism) would not be a universally applicable doctrine.
Answer. Acärya Samantabhadra has explained non-absolutism (relativism) from the non-absolutistic standpoint itself. When the system of conditional dialectic is applied for the knowledge and exposition of an object in its entirety, non-absolutism (relativism) is proper and genuine. And when only a particular attribute is cognised and explained, the services of a particular naya (viewpoint) is requisitioned and that is a sort of absolutism, ekanta (singular viewpoint). The propounder of non-absolutism (relativism) admits both non-absolutism and absolutism in their proper perspective. This is why the system of sevenfold predication (sapatabhangi) is applicable to non-absolutism (relativism) itself in the following manner. 1. There is absolutism in some respect. 2. There is non-absolutism in some respect.
There are both absolutism and non-absolutism in some respect. There is indescribability in some respect. There is absolutism and indescribability in some respect. There is non-absolutism and indescribability in some respect. There is absolutism, non-absolutism and indescribability in some respect.
There is rio contradiction in absolutism by itself. What is denied is only the absolutism that refutes the contrary viewpoint. Absolutism thus is twofold, viz. right and wrong. The absolutism that is right is naya, while the wrong one is pseudo-naya. Non-absolutism is not an obstinate and rigid doctrine because the admission of the co-existence of contrary attributes not attested by any valid source of knowledge does not fall within the purview of genuine non-absolutism. Thus non-absolutism is of two kinds, viz. right and wrong. The former is valid knowledge, while the latter is a sham simulation of it. The right non-absolutism has a universal application.37
Acārya Akalanka has subjected the substance 'jīva'to the system of sevenfold predication as follows
37. Tattvārtha värttika, 1.6.
anekanto'pi dvividah:-samyaganekānto mithyānekänta iti. tatra samyagekantohetuvišesasamarthyapeksah pramanah prarūpitarthaikadesadeśaḥ. ekātmāvadhāraṇena anyäśeșanirākaranapravaņapraạidhirmithyaikāntah. ekatra sapratipaksanekadharmasvarūpanirūpaņo yuktyāgamā bhyāma viruddhah
| SR No. | 002012 |
| Book Title | Facets of Jain Philosophy Religion and Culture |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Shreechand Rampuriya, Ashwini Kumar, T M Dak, Anil Dutt Mishra |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 1996 |
| Total Pages | 400 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Nyay |
| File Size | 23 MB |