Nandanvana

SR No.: 006597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 592
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 95

Some Thoughts on Changes in Order of Some Jaina Chains ... :
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indicates his intellectual acumen. However, it seems that he could not apply this quality in systematizing four karmic bonds as in point 4 above. The period of nearly seven hundred years after him has been the period of intellectuals when the Jaina thoughts were glorified logistically. We need the same type of trend today. The development of the theory of manifoldness of fourth-fifth century takes us to indescribability, but the question is where is the element of decisionmaking there? The current age does not award a credit for mere collection of opinions in preference to considered opinion. (3) The Criteria of Scientificity: Modifiability
The above changes in order indicate the scientific mentality of earlier scholars. Accordingly, the presumption of all canonical concepts as tri-timely true does not seem appropriate. However, these changes are indicative of the sufficient encouragement. Are we traditionalists or non-scientific? This question is answered by Bruhn who opines rationalism and Puritanism surpassed the manifestation of new ideas and attitudes of Jainas- both in physical and spiritual fields. Also Jaina intellectualism underwent transformation in its own right. The scientificity and intellectualism seem to move together. (4) Southern Convention and Northern Convention
It may be questioned whether these changes in order are the results of different conventions in south and north? Are they the result of differences between the Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras? In general, the Svetāmbara canons are representative of northern tradition while the Digambara pro-canons mostly symbolise the southern convention. The scholars of both the conventions had no mutual contact in early days. Hence, these type of changes in order may be called changing players. These changes must, therefore, be intellectually analysed. However, there are certain cases where the south and north scholars of different periods have opined similarly. Such cases like the seven standpoints are also referred to in the paper. (5) The Last Stage of Conceptual Development
The above cases refer to the development of preliminary stages of Jaina thoughts. This continued up to about tenth century wherefrom the process could not continue. The period of devotionalism also appeared which led to the subsidence of intellectualism.