Multidimensional Application of Anekantavada

SR No.: 014009
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey, Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 552
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 9 MB

Page 127

64
Multi-dimensional Application of Anekantavāda
Secondly, there are only seven types of objects where one can express doubts-astitva, nästitva etc. Therefore the predications are also seven. The first mode represents the existence of the jar (ghata) and the non-existence of cloth (pata) in the jar. The second predication shows the negative aspect of jar that it does not exist as clothe or anything else. There is no contradiction here, since the predication asserts the relative and determinate abstraction. The third mode offers a successive presentation (kramārpaṇa) of negative and positive aspects of an entity, While the fourth one offers a simultaneous presentation (Sahārpaṇa) of the two concepts. According to Jaina conception, One word represents one meaning. The relation between a word and its meaning is described by Jainas as Vācyavācakaniyama. The characters of being and non-being in the jar cannot be expressed at once (yugpat). Therefore this predication is designated as inexpressible (avaktavya). The remaining are the combined modes derived form bringing together the first, second and the third with the fourth one, which express the complex judgements. Each of these modes contains one alternative truth while altogether contain the complete truth. Observing the importance of this method Padmarajiah says, " The whole method, therefore, may be said to be one which helps a patient inquiring mind in its adventure of mapping out the winding paths running into the faintly known or unknown regions of reality and bringing them within the bounds of human knowledge.11 Miyamoto observes that the seven-fold scheme of the Jainas is equivalent to the four-fold scheme of Buddhists. But this observation in not perfectly right, since the Jainas pondered over the problems more profoundly than the Buddhists. It would be more appropriate if we think of the first four propositions of the Buddhists. But there are differences between the Jaina and the Buddhist schemes. According to the Jaina scheme, all the seven propositions could be true form Relative standpoints, While in the Buddhist scheme only one proposition could be true. The oppositions are not considered logical alternatives in Jainism as considered in Buddhism. It is more probable that the Buddha's Catuskoți formula has been influenced by the four-fold formula of Sanjaya, although there are also traces of the influence of the seven-fold formula of the Jainas. Such formulas, it must be remembered, were