Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 43

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Initial background
19 Actually, we find cults in the thinkers of all the countries of the world. Even in Greece, the birth place of philosophical thinking of Europe, there existed so many mutually opposed cults. The story of cults in the philosophical thinkers of India is a little differept. Cults in this country have basically their life-force in religion; actually their very essence is in religion. All the cults have given shelter to philosophical thinking, have contributed a lot towards its development and spread. From one point of view we can state, that it is only through the efforts of these varied cults that the intellectual arena of Indian philosophical thought could become miraculous. However, we have, in the present context, to consider the fact that all these cults have very deep faith and con. fidenco only in their own beliefs. Consequently, there will be beliefs in each cult which are not acceptable to the opposed ones. These beliefs can be matters only of faith of the cult or its own feelings; they cannot be matters of direct perception. It thus happens that the common stream of direct perception assumes the
form of faith and conviction of the cult as soon as it is divided · into various streams in the realm of the cults.
When direct perception assumes the form of faith, all the cults have to depend upon fancies, arguments and inferences in order to bring about steadiness in and justification of that faith. All philosophic thinkers take full help of fancies for the nourishment of their respective faiths, and still they believe and proclaim that whatever their faith in belief, it is not mere fancy but direct perception, Thus, in the meaning of the word 'daršana-philosophy'; fancies as also true or untrue or half-true inferences are also included. Thus, on one side, cult guarded and defended the basic philosophy, i.e., direct perception, continued with constant thinking for its clarification and took recourse to pleasing fancies for its expression. On the other side, the creeper of philosophical thinking expanding in growth, flowering and bearing fruit on the fence of the cult became so very dependent that it had ultimately no support except that of the cult. As a result, the creeper of philo. sophical thinking was too delicate and extremely norrow in outlook like beauties in purdah.
[Darśan ane cintan pt. 1, pp. 67, 69)