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No. II
Astinasti Vada
approach by the principle of Anekanta Vada, if it is to be understood accurately. Thus, we see the Jaina metaphysics has got a more rational view in its approach to reality than the other schools of thought which obstinately cling to one particular aspect. The latter schools of thought create a readymade framework and attempt to squeezing the nature of reality in the readymade framework which serves as a sort of Procrustian bed and thinkers do not hesitate to chop the inconvenient corners to make reality fit in with their framework. Such a method of unwarranted interference with the nature of reality to make it suit one's own theory is neither science nor philosophy. It is merely a dogmatic assertion of one's own prejudice and wishing reality to squeeze into the readymade scheme of things. It is not necessary for us to repeat that such an irrational attitude will be inconsistent with true principles of metaphysics. The function of man is to understand the nature of reality; not to interfere with its nature to suit his liking. Judged from this point of view, the only school of thought which may be said to resemble the Jaina metaphysics is the Hegelian doctrine of the Dialectic. Hegel's direct approach to the nature of reality is more or less analogous to the Jaina approach. Hegel's Dialectic consisting of thesis, antithesis and synthesis, which may be described as, identity of the opposites, or the resolution of the contradictories, exactly correspond to the Jaina doctrine of Astinasti Vāda. But in other respects Hegelian idealism is quite different from the Jaina metaphysics and hence we cannot afford to emphasise the similarity between the two schools beyond this one particular fact. This method of philosophy, the method of philosophical approach must be adequate and suitable to the nature to reality, which is the object of study. This general principle is observed to be true in the Jaina approach to the study of reality.
[ Published by the kind permission of Varmi Abhinandan Granth editor]
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