Central Philosophy of Jainism Anekanta Vada

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

Page 63

XIII
EXPLANATION OF THE SEVEN PREDICATES
“From a certain point of view, you (Mahāvira) accept, “It is," and from another point of view you accept, “It is not." Similarly, both “it is" and "it is not," as well as it is inexpressible." All these (four) are approved (by you) with reference to the doctrine of stand
point ( naya ) only, not absolutely." ( Aptamimaṁsā, v. 14 ) In this way, Samantabhadra has formulated the first four of the seven alternative predicates, We can symbolize these four basic propositions
+, -,+' and 'O'. The fourth predication, “it is inexpressible,” is actually interpreted as the joint (combined) and simultaneous (cf. sahārpana) application of both the positive and the negative. The fourth is distinct from the third proposition because in the latter there is joint but gradual ( one after another, non-simultaneous=kramārpaņa ) application of the positive and the negative. Since it is believed that the language lacks any expression which can adequately express this simultaneous and combined application of both the positive and the negative characters, the Jainas say that they are obliged to name this predicate "inexpressible" and we have symbolized it by 'O' accordingly.
Although the predication "inexpressible" (or '0') has been reached in the above manner (as is evident from the Jaina texts ), the Jainas, however, regard it still as a unitary predicate, a unit, like the positive or the negative (i. e., “it is” or “it is not" ). Probably, it was thought that since the two components, positive and negative, are here perfectly balanced and totally neutralized, being applied simultaneously (in the same breath ), the predication had lost its compound character and melted into one unitary whole. In other words, a predicate that was compound in character in its inception (or when it was first thought out) turned into a non-compound, primary predicate because of its internal structure, so to say. I have thus used the neutral symbol, o', to indicate it.
The Jainas have, in this way, three primary and non-compound predicates, positive, negative and the neutral ( +, -, O). Now it is easy to see how the Jainas reached the seven possible varieties. Let the three predication-units be represented by x, y, and z. A simple mathematical computation will generate only seven varieties, if we use these three units in three ways, one at a time, two at a time and three at a time: