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CHAPTER XIX
ANEKANTAVADA-SYADVADA
The distinguishing characterstics of a substance are its origination, destruction and 1 permanence. These three characteristics are different from one another and cannot be understood apart from the substance itself. By permanence is meant that the essential nature of the substance is indestructible, though it may undergo certain modifications with reference to its form, space and time. It follows therefore that indestructibility or permanence is from one point of view and not from all points of view; for, if it were the latter, there cannot be any change at all.
Substances are characterized by an infinite number of attributes. For the sake of use or need, prominence is given to certain characteristics of a substance from one view. And prominence is not given to other characteristics as these are of no use or need at that time. Thus even the existing attributes are not expressed, as they are of secondary importance (anarpita). There is no contradiction in what is established by these two points of view. For instance, there is no contradiction in the same person Devadatta being a father, a son, a brother, a nephew, and so on. For, the points of view are different. From the point of his son, he is a father, and from the point of his father, he is a son. Similarly, with regard to the other designations. In the same manner, substance is permanent from the point of view of general properties. From the point of its specific modes, it is not permanent. Hence there is no contradiction. 2
It is therefore clear that every substance which exists can be looked at from different points of view; in other words, it is
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