First Steps to Jainism Part 2

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 83

The Central Philosophy of Jainism-Anekantavad 69
acquire knowledge from different points of view, but also to ascertain the basis for commonality in contradictory propositions with a view to reconcile the same. Another example of such an approach can be the two views about the soul i.e. some hold there is only one soul and others hold there are innumerable souls. Nayavad reconciles the apparent contradiction by holding that from the slandpoint of separate individual beings there are innumerable souls, but from the stand-point of pure omniscient quality all souls are alike and, therefore, one. Since stand-points are also known as "Apeksha", Nayavad is called Apekshavad, yet another name for Anekantvada which can be loosely translated as Relativism.
27.
We close this discussion of Nayavad with the following shloka of Acharya Yashovijaya which gives succintly the purpose and scope of Naya to embrace different schools of thought:
बौद्धानामृजुसूत्रत मतमभूद्वेदान्तिनां संग्रहात् ।
सांख्यानां तन एवं नंगमनयाद् योगश्च वैशेषिकः ॥ शब्दब्रह्मविदोऽपि शब्दनयतः सर्वनयेगु फितां ।
đût efozfzatg areazar geaagâterà 11 yearzaarz, faaafargfa |
Rjusutra Naya includes the Buddhist point of view. Vedanta and Sankhya are covered by Sangrah Naya, the Yoga Vaisheshika are embraced by Naigam Naya and Shabda Naya covers the Shabda Brahmvadi. Thus the Jain approach is apparent that Nayavad embreces all philosophies.
In any case, the divisions and subdivisions of Nayas in not sacrosanct as difference is apparant in the approach of different thinkers and at different times-with development of thought, which cannot be static. As stated earlier there can be unlimited Naya as the aspects from which a thing can be viewed are unlimited. Further, all the Naya are dissolved and disappear with the appearance of omniscience or Keval Gyan, as the stars disappear with the appearance of the sun.
28. Doctrine of Seven fold predicates-Syadvad-Saptbhangi
Another offshoot of Anekantwadi or non-onesided approach of Jain philosophy is the Doctrine of seven-fold predication called Saptabhanghi and Syadvad (doctrine of Maybe). It is also considered an important and unique contribution of the Jains to the philoFor Private & Personal Use Only