Beyond Doubt

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 42

CHAPTER V
What was the reason for Indrabhuti's confused state of mind? The reason was that he lacked 'Anekanta Veda' i.e.'manysided' view in life. One sided view of anything leads to conflict and many folded approach helps to perceive things in the right perspective. One who adopts the former point of view sees the one in many and many in one. The word "World" is used in singular number in practice, but in the world there are many continents, in each continent there are many countries, in each country there are many states, in each state there are many districts, in each district there are many taluks, in each taluk there are many villages containing many houses and in each house there are many people and there are numerous thoughts in each of the people's mind. In the 'Acharanga Sutra' it has been told by Lord Mahavira:
"जे एगं जाणइ से सव्वं जाणइ जे सव्वं जाणइ से एंग जाणई"
"One who knows the supreme soul knows all and the one who knows all, knows the soul”. Many people are of the opinion that Syadvada (Anekanta vada) 'non-absolutism' is Sanshayavada is sceptical (doubtful) and non committal in its attitude. But this attitude of people is wrong because in doubt both possibilities are indefinite (not applicable). For example when you say "This is silveror pearl", you are not quite sure of the thing being silver or pearl. Averse to this kind of sceptimism is Anekenta vada, because in Anekanta vada one is quite sure of either possibilities. Half glass milk can be said to be either half full or half empty. Though both the statements are expressed opposingly yet they are correct because they speak the truth from the alternate points of view.
27