Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 58

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acquiring knowledge may be described as follows: First, there is the indefinite cognition as an isolated object or idea; it is the state of the mind prior to analysis, that condition of things to which analysis is to be applied. This is what is really meant by unity, or identity, of the universe with the real which many philosophers proclaim, It makes no difference whether this unity or identity finds its home in a sensuous object or a subjective idea, the process is the sane. Next conies analysis-the dissolving, separating, or differencing of the parts, elements, properties or aspects Last comes the synthesis, which is putting together the primitive indefinite cognitionSynthesis-with the subsequent analysis; so that The primitive cognition shall not be a complete annihilation or disappearance by the condensation of all differences, and so that, on the other hand, the analysis shall not be an absolute diffusiveness isolation, or abstraction, destructive of all unity. which is not the primitive unity but the relational unity of a variety of aspects. The analytical method is known in the Jaina literature as Nayavada (consideration of aspects ). The synthetical method is known as Syad-vada (doctrine of the inexpugnability of the inextricably combined properties and relations) or Anekanta-vada ( doctrine of non isolation ).