Way of Life Part 1

SR No.: 006513
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 432
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 22 MB

Page 109

DISCOURSE 6
99
Answer: From where do you bring in the words of the exponents of other Dharmas? The original source is the exposition of a Jineshwar. Some have taken some statements of Jin from the single point of view and have expounded their respective dharmas. In those expositions, there is the original statement of the Jin but people whose minds are imitative like some statements of the Jin, but they adopt the single-point of view. Therefore when they proceed to expound their theories on that basis, there arises contradiction. The statements of those who adopt a single point of view cannot be free from contradictions and inconsistencies.
Question: The Vedas are believed to be Apaurusheya (not expounded by anyone). Are not the Vedic utterances consistent?
Answer: Please understand one point. Whoever makes a statement on the basis of the single-point of view or wherever you find such a statement, it cannot be free from inconsistencies and contradictions. There cannot be concordance in it. We do not hate the Vedas nor do we love the Jain Agams specially. We respect and love all doctrines and theories that are expounded on the basis of multiple-vision. The second point we have to understand is this. No statement can be Apaurusheya. Without a Purusha (a man as speaker) how can there be a statement or a theory? If men do not speak; and if they do not open their mouths and utter anything how can there be any utterance ? It is said that the Vedas were not uttered by anyone and that they have been in existence from times immemorial. The people say that also God created the Universe. If so, did the Vedas exist when there was no Universe at all ? If they did, for whom did they exist ? When some people say that the Vedas were revealed by God, in that statement there is a self-contradiction. The implication of that statement is that God himself revealed the Vedas. All right. Let us assume that God himself composed them but do we find the multiple vision in the doctrines expounded in the Vedas? If there is multiple vision, then there can be no hesitation on the part of anyone to accept the Vedas. But multiple vision is absent in them. Therefore, in the Vedic doctrines there is no concordance.