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An Introduction to Jain Philosophy
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of metaphysical propositions, and all contains the word 'syat' e.g. syad asti sarvam, syad nasti sarvam. Syat means 'may be', and is explained by kathamcit, which in this connection may be translated 'somehow.'The word syat here qualifies the word asti, and indicates the indefiniteness of being. For example, we say, a jar is somehow, i.e. it exist, if we mean thereby that it exists as a jar; but it does not somehow, if we mean thereby that it exists as a cloth or the like.
From the point of view of grammatical presentation of the propositions, there are three forms of predications, the affirmative, the negative and the one which gives expression to the idea of indescribableness. Of these, the first kind affirms and the second denies the existence of a quality, property or thing, but the third declares an object to be indescribable. A thing is describable when both existence and non-existence are to be attributed to it at one and the same time. These three forms of judgment give rise to seven possible modes of predication14 which are as follows: 1. Syāt-asti- From a particular point of view 'it is.' A pot exists
as a pot. Syāt-nāsti- From a different point of view 'it is not.' From the point of its nature, other than its own and its expression of other forms like place, time and the material out of which it is made, the pot is not a pot. Syāt-asti-nāsti- From a still different approach to problem 'it is and not.' From the point of view of the four-fold scheme of expression of self-nature (svacatuştaya-dravya, kşetra, kāla and bhāva), the pot exist as pot and from the point of view of the expression of the other nature (paracatuştaya) the pot does not exist as pot. Syāt-avaktavyam- From a point of view, 'it is inexpressible.' This fold refers to the impossibility of simultaneous affirmations and negations of the characteristics of the pot. Syāt-asti-avaktavyam- From another point of view, 'it is and is inexpressible.' This fold affirms the existence of the pot as
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