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SÜTRA 32.
145
must receive primary and the other secondary consideration.
- J. L. Jaini 318 In Sthananga-sutra, a similar expression occurs :
ftuguftqa 1319 The author of Sarvärthasiddhi has explained this in the following words:
अनेकान्तात्मकस्य वस्तुनः प्रयोजनवशाद् यस्य कस्यचिद्धर्मस्य विवक्षया प्रापितं प्राधान्यमर्पितमपनीतमिति यावत् । तद्विपरीतमनपितम् । प्रयोजनाभावात् ।
Substances are endowed with an infinite number of attributes. When we describe a substance we can do so by adopting one point of view at a time so giving prominence to a few attributes. However it does not mean that other attributes are absent; what it means is that the missing attributes are of no purpose to us at that time.
For instance, we say that the universe is eternal from the point of view of the principles of conservation of mass and energy but it is not eternal from the viewpoint of entropy. Put in popular language, it means that the total amount of matter and energy in the Einstein's finite universe or in the finite lokakäsa of Jaina philosophy will ever remain constant and hence the universe is nitya or permanent. From another point of view, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the entropy of the universe is constantly changing. The various natural phenomena occuring spontaneously are tending towards equalization of temperature and pressure. According to this view everything is in a state of flux and a day would come when everything would be at a stand-still. From this aspect of thought we may say that the universe is non-permanent, ever-changing or transitory. These two viewpoints although giving apparently contradictory results, are perfectly same.
But this simple truth of Jain metaphysics has proved a stumbling block to many. What to say of the ordinary intellects, even the great geniuses like Sankarācārya have failed to grasp its sense. For says he, “As thus the means of knowledge, the object of knowledge, the knowing subject, and the act of knowledge, are all alike indefinite, how can the Tîrthankara teach with any claim to authority and how can His followers act on a doctrine the matter
318. See Tatvartha-sutra, S.B.J. Series, Vol. II, p. 121. 319. Sthananga-sutra, 10.46.
