Central Philosophy of Jainism Anekanta Vada

Author(s): Bimal Krishna Matilal, Nagin J Shah, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 24

Middle Way and 'Non-onesided' Way
And when so asked he answers: "No".
And people would ask him: "Well, friend, do you know what is the name or gotra (family name) of this beauty-queen whom you desire and wish to make love to? Do you know whether she is tall or short or of medium height, whether she is dark or pitch-dark or dark-brown or of brown-yellow complexion (mangura = "golden in colour" T. W.Rhys Davids. In fact mangura refers to a river fish of brown-yellow colour; see concise Pali-English Dictionary: A. P. Buddhadatta Mahathera, Colombo, 1957)? Or, do you know in which village, town or city she dwells ?"
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And when so asked, he answers, "No".
And people say to him, "So then, friend, you do desire and wish to make love to someone whom you do not know, nor have you seen?". And when so asked, he answers, " Yes".
Now, what do you think of it, Potthapada ? If this happens, would not the statement of that man be nonsensical (appatihirakata='without good ground." Rhys Davids says "Witless" following Buddhaghosa's interpretation "patibhānavirahitam"; Rhys Davids also suggests "not apposite") ?
'Yes, Sir. If this happens, certainly the statement of that man would be nonsensical.'
'Thus, Poṭṭhapada, to all those śramaņas and brāhmaṇas, who say, "The soul has perfect happiness and no disease (suffering) after death" I say, "Is it true that you, friends, preach and believe that the person has perfect happiness and no suffering after death?".
And when they are so asked, they answer, "Yes."
And I ask them again, "Do you, friends, move about (in this world) having known or seen any man perfectly happy ?"
And being so asked, they answer, "No."
And I ask them, " Again, friends, have you yourselves experienced the perfect bliss for a whole night or for a whole day, or even for half a night or half a day?"
And being so asked, they answer, "No." Then I ask them thus, "Do you, friends, know the way or the method by which one is supposed to realize the perfect happiness?"