________________
5821
1 The Doctrine of Syadwad
to view it from different aspects. This is Syad wad. This is also termed Anekantvad ( Different view points ) or A peks-, havad. The thing that we see possesses different properties. The indivisable whole of many properties is called a Dravya. That there is no contrariness in these properties is established by Syadvad alone. All these properties can be examined in as many as seven different ways that cover the whole field. These are as follows:-(11 ( Syadasti? (2] [ Syadnasti } [3] [Syadasti nasti ] [4] [ Syandvaktvya ] [5, Syadasti Avaktvya 1[6] [ Syadnasti Avaktavya į 171 Syadasti Nasti Avaktvya]
This is called seven-pointed doctrine in Jain philosophy. These seven points are the basis of Syadvad the doctrine which gives a complete knowledge of the coherence of all the unopposing properties of a thing by looking to their positive and negative aspects according to nature, is called a suit (Saptbhengi the seven-pointed doctrine.) The word " (i. e. not contrary or opposing ) is of special importance, Take for instance the statement, “Ram-Ratna is older than Ramesh and younger too.” In this sentence both the qualities of elderliness or youth are applied to the same RamRatna. But this is untenable because these two qualities are contraries. He who is older than another can never be younger than him. Therefore when such contraries are to be found in a thing we can not call it homegeneous whole. This false unity is diversity.
Well I now change the above sentence in this way, "Ram Ratna is older then Ramesh but younger than Hira Lal.” Now there is no contrarity in this sentence. It means that the same Ram Ratna can be older than Ramesh and can
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org