Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 75

reason for this is in the exquisitely beautiful system of logic and reasoning known as 'Syādvāda', considered to be the central doctrine of the Jaina philosophy by which one acquires the full and complete knowledge of any state of things from different and diverse points of view. It is because of this also called Apēkṣāvāda or Anēkāmtavāda. Western Scholars have highly eulogised the doctrine of Syādvāda. The theory of relativity (Sāpekshavāda) of Dr. Einstein, the greatest of the world scientists is in many parts only a reflection or a shadow of the doctrine of Syādvāda.
ĀTMĀ
In this philosophy there is not even an iota of space for imaginary conceptions or superstitions, it is full of authentic enunciations at the fundamental principles (or substances) with which this vast universe is governed. Many wonderful discoveries of science which see the light of day, are found described long before in the Jaina doctrine e.g. the theory of velocity, force and shape of sound; belief in the co-operative principles like ether, heat, light, darkness, shadow, etc., interpenetration of matter, elements of hydrogen and oxygen in water, theory of atoms and molecules. A detailed description of these and many other subjects are found in the most ancient Jaina scriptures.
The Self....
In the same way the concept of this philosophy regarding Soul (Atmavāda), fundamental principles (Tatvavāda); conduct (Kriyāvāda), inductive and deductive logic (Tarkavāda and Nayavada), etc., is so subtle, deep and penetrative that a real thinker who studies it is easily convinced that the propounders of this philosophy could not be mere super intellectuals or men of merely very profound and mature intelligence but they must have been omniscients (Sarvajña) and all-perceiving (Sarvadarsi) otherwise such delineation would have been impossible.
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Knowledge and perceptions are the exclusive property of the Soul. When Karmic impurities are completely annihilated, the pure Soul attains omniscience - Knowledge and vision. The infinite, incredible power, capacity and deep meaning as elaborated in Jainism for Omniscient Souls is incomprehensible. It is only they with the spiritual power can know and see the indivisible 'Unit of time' (Samaya) and indivisible 'Particles' - (Paramāņu) of matter without any aid.