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152 First Steps to Jainism
entity relegating the others to the status of mere attributes of that entity:
dharme dharme 'nya evartho dharmino 'nantadharmiṇaḥ. angitve 'nyatamântasya sesantānām tadangatā..
He then gives a general instruction to his readers, proficient in the application of the nayas to follow the same method of saptabhangi to discuss the problems of 'one and many', and the like, that were prevalent in those days. In fact, he himself discusses the following additional problems in the text under review : identity and differences, permanence and flux, cause and effect, reason and scripture, free will and determinism, idealism & realism, bondage & emancipation.
7 (b). Haribhadra : The Anekantajayapatākā is an important contributian of Haribhadra to the field of anekanta dialectic, which brings within its purview the problems of existence and nonexistence, permanence and flux, universal and particular, and describable and indescribable. Among the doctrines refuted in the treatise, kşaṇikavāda and vijñānavāda occupy a prominent position. All these refutations are made strictly from the standpoint of Jaina philosophy and sometimes they go to a depth hitherto unreached by his predecessors. The comparative outlook of Haribhadra enabled him to unfold the hidden potentialities of the anekānta principle and apply them in the interest of a comprehensive view af the problems, epistemological and ontological, that exercised the minds of those days.
7 (c). Akalanka: The Aştasatt (commentary on the Aptamimamsa) of Akalańka provides a most penetrating insight into the niceties of the doctrine of anekanta. His defence of the doctrine is unique and perhaps unsurpassed by any predecessor or successor. He unfolds the thoughts of Samantabhadra in a manner which is comparable to that of Dharmakirti in respect af Dignaga. The kṣaṇabhangavāda of the Buddhists as well as their vijñānavāda are vehemently critcized by Akalanka. His contributions to the field of Jaina logic and epistemology are most original and unique, and they set up a norm for the posterity to follow and emulate.
7 (d). Vidyananda: The Aşṭasahasri (the subcommentary on the Aştaşati of Akalanka) of Vidyananda is perhaps the last word For Private & Personal Use Only
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