Anekanta Philosophy of Co existence

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

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Anekanta : Philosophy of co-existence
probable. Anekānta's job is to get rid of the internal contradictions apparent between the eternal and the noneternal, that is, substance and mode. Seen from the point of view of fluxism, change is real and true, while the eternal is unreal; whereas according to the eternalism (the doctrine of absolute permanence), permanence is real and true, while change (or impermanence) is unreal. This illusion of contrast and conflict between eternal and non-eternal is creating problems in understanding the element (sat) or substance (dravya). Anekānta has tried to resolve this problem by asserting that both – the eternal as well as non-eternal can coexist in the same substratum. (In other words, they do not need separate substratum to exist in). The substratum of both is the sat (element). Therefore, we cannot comprehend sat by separating the permanence and creation - cessation or impermanence). Can we separate a pot from the clay? Can we imagine a cloth different from the fibers? In the same way, can we find out a substratum of mode other than the substance itself ? This is not possible at all. It is only by accepting this impossibility that anekānta has put forth a solution to the problem. There is a continuous flow of modes in every real (ultimate) substance. As permanence is the characteristic (nature) of ultimate substance or element, so is the creation and cessation.