Jaina Epistemology

SR No.: 006738
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 516
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

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Epistemology of Jainas
lettered. One cannot say that the four types of avagraha etc. are always Sruta niśrita. Similarly, the buddhis also are not peculiar to the uneducated only. It appears that the author has followed in it the local tradition of associating the above tit-bits with uneducated people. So, when they were recognised as associated with the persons without śruta, the others came to be accepted as related with the person with śruta.
According to VBh. the four buddhis also appear in the natural process of Avagraha etc., yet, they are named as Aśruta piśrita, because, they depend upon the ksayopaśama of the previous life or of the same life attained through practice or such other things. They do not depend upon the scriptural knowledge or the instruction by a teacher. On the other hand the stage of 'Thā' is an inclination to classify the object, i.e. to attach it with some connotation. It is not possible unless the cognizer possesses the knowledge of words and their meanings. This knowledge is obtained through scriptures or instruction only. A person, however, intelligent he may be, cannot be acquainted with the terminology of a particular language without instruction.
But this solution raises another difficulty. It implies that the stage of Thā' cannot be attained by a being unacquainted with language. By language we do not mean here the personal inner articulation, which is a constant companion of thought. Here it means the common dialect based on the instruction. We cannot say that a cow, monkey or such other intelligent animals do not reach the stage of "ībā'. They form their judgements also, and reach even the stage which is more advanced. They do not get any instruction from scriptures, but learn everything by their natural instinct. So, the solution given by VBh. also is a general way of classification. There is no hard and fast demarcation between the two. The Division of Śruta nisrita
It has been stated above that the two-fold division of Śruta 1. Vibeșāvaśyaka Bhāşya G. 177