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Śramaņa
Jaina Process of Learning
Dr. Mohan Lal Mehta*
True education consists in right knowledge, right belief and right conduct. Acquisition of knowledge, i.e. learning is an essential characteristic of the sentient being. The Jainas regard knowledge to be of two types: indeterminate and determinate. These are two stages of learning. Indeterminate knowledge or darśana is the first stage of cognition. It is in the form of apprehension. Determinate knowledge or jñāna is the second stage of cognition. It is in the form of comprehension. The process of learning passes through these two stages.
Comprehension is the determinate, distinct and definite cognition of an object. The Jaina thinkers, just like other ancient philosophers of India, recognise two varieties of comprehension: Sensory and extra-sensory. Sensory comprehension is conditioned by the senses and mind, whereas extra-sensory comprehension is directly derived from the source of consciousness, i.e., soul. It perceives the object directly and immediately without any assistance of the senses and mind; hence, it is also called direct perception, immediate perception or extra-sensory perception
Sensory (including mental) comprehension is of two kinds: verbal (śruta) and non-verbal (mati). As regards the varieties of nonverbal comprehension (mati-jñāna), there is a slight difference of opinion among different authors. This difference lies in the fact that some of them have unconsciously undergone a confusion between apprehension and comprehension. Or let us express the same fact in a different way. They have dealt with the process of cognition in general without indicating its two divisions, viz., apprehension and comprehension. They
* Former Professor of Philosphy, Pune University, Pune.
