Jaina Gazette 1928

SR No.: 034890
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ajitprasad, C S Mallinath
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office
Publication Year: 1928
Total Pages: 502
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 33 MB

Page 338

THE JAINA DOCTRINE OF SOUL 173 by the fact of 'self-consciousness,'— the consciousness of the
I'. It is because the soul is possessed of this 'soul-hood's that consciousness becomes 'intimately' attached to it. The sky has no 'soul-hood' and therefore consciousness cannot be attached to it. In answer to this contention of the Naiyayikas, the Jainas point out that according to the Nyaya thinkers themselves, the 'soul-hood' being a genus, it is but 'intimately' related to the soul. The Nyaya position thus involves the fallacy of 'Anyonya-samsraya' or mutual dependence. It is in this way. It is because 'soul-hood' is perceived in the soul that we conclude that 'soul-hood'-and not 'sky-hood'-is intimately connected with the soul; and it is because 'sky-hood' is perceived in the sky that'sky-hood'-and not ‘soul-hood'is said to be 'intimately' related to the sky. Hence the 'intimate' connection of a genus with its individuals is determined by our perception. On the other hand, this perception is accounted for by the Naiyayikas by a reference to the 'intimate' relationship itself. In other words it is said that we perceive 'soul-hood'-and not 'sky-hood' in the soul because 'soul-hood' is 'intimately' related to the soul and that we perceive 'sky-hood'-and not 'soul-hood' in the sky because 'sky-hood is 'intimately' related to the sky. The Jainas argue that the perception of 'soul-hood' in the soul proves that consciousness pertains to the very essence of the soul. It is impossible to satisfactorily account for such perception without identifying to some extent consciousness with the soul. The Nyaya thinkers urge that it is the common experience of all people that consciousness is but 'intimately' related to the soul. The answer of the Jainas to this is that if the common experience of all people is to be relied on as a source of valid knowledge, then it is proved that consciousness is inherent in the nature of the soul for such is exactly what is commonly felt. No one perceives, "I am essentially unconscious ; I become conscious when consciousness is joined to me" or "consciousness becomes 'intimately' attached to me who am unconscious in nature." The common feeling of all people is "I am essentially a knower."
Just as the knowledge, “I am a knower" is impossible in Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat