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acceptable. The conclusions that Jean Piaget drew about child's development, are universally accepted. They explain the development and behavior of every child in the world; over the years they have found to be almost correct. Piaget studied one child but the conclusions are valid for every child. How could it happen? Individuals exist at three levels - biological, social and spiritual. The variability in the behavior of individuals in more at social level. At biological and spiritual level every body is almost one and the same. Piaget concentrated, to being with, at the child as biological and spiritual being. He tried to understand him as a social being also only when the child reached the age of 7. As people are almost same at biological and spiritual level, objective, deep and natural study of even one individual may unveil facts about others behavior too. Nature of Proof- In the view of Patanjali:
Patanjali is an ancient Yoga Master. He has composed Yoga Sutra. His Yoga Sutras are being explored by modern psychologists. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is divided into four Pada (Sections). They are Samādhi Pāda, Sadhana Päda, Kaivalya Pada and Vibhuti Paad. Patanjali has followed the Sutra style of writing that is utmost condensation. Patanjali has not given very high place to direct evidence in his Yoga Sutra whereas sense evidence or direct knowledge in modern science has been given a very respectable place. But sense evidence accordingly to ancient Indian philosophers cannot totally be relied upon. Whatever the senses, see, feel or smell may be illusion or untrue. Scientists have also started endorsing the view.
Patanjali, a great thinker and exponent of yoga philosophy have said the following about the nature and order of proof:
प्रत्याक्षानुमानागमाः प्रमाणानिं।'
Pratyakṣānumānāgamah pramāṇani
This Aphorism (1) says direct cognition; inference and testimony are progressively. the better proofs. Here testimony means statement given by a seer. As a proof, Patanjali has given highest place to the testimony and the lowest to direct cognition or sense evidence. As we have discussed already that our senses have limitation have they are incapable of comprehending the reality in totality. Knowledge produced by the sense are, thus only working knowledge and not at all the absolute knowledge. Inference as a proof has been given a better place as compared against direct sense evidence. To draw an inference from observation, one applies one's wisdom and intelligence. Therefore, as a proof it is superior to direct sense evidence- but testimony, according to Patanjali, is the highest proof. At the surface of this, it seems strange, but a deeper analysis would convince us that Patanjali has a point. A seer (f) comprehends a phenomena going beyond senses, not through them. He maintains maximum objectivity and neutrality while making any statement.
Arhat Vacana, 19 (3), 2007
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