Anekanta Philosophy of Co existence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Anekanta : Philosophy of co-existence
to be enumerated. Theoretically, it could be sạid that potentialities of an object are innumerable as far as the mediate form of potentiality is concerned. A scientist through his research can know a few of these. A person, with the power of super-sensuous knowledge can know them through supersensuous knowledge. An ordinary man can, however, know only the immediate cause or the visible modifications. We, therefore, cannot put any limitation on the possibilities or probabilities. The element has five varieties viz. dharmāstikāya (medium of motion), adharmāstikāya (medium of rest), ākāśāstikāya (space), pudgalāstikāya (matter) and jīvāstikāya (soul). They never change into one another. The soul does not change into matter and vice-versa. The element or the ultimate substances are absolute truth. Non-absolute truths are only the modifications. Man is not an ultimate substance, it is only a modification. All visible objects are modifications of the ultimate substances, they are not the ultimate substances. Things emanating from modifications can change into each other; they are, therefore, not absolutely different. The doctrine of identity-cum-difference propounded by anekānta is useful for under-standing the identity as well as difference of the object. These visible objects are possessed of their own shape, qualities and characteristics and therefore, they are different. Thus, gold is not mercury, mercury is not gold. But