First Steps to Jainism Part 2

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

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First Steps to Jainism
called Doctrine of 'may be'. This interpretation however, introduces an element of uncertainty or doubt which is in no way the intention behind Anekantvada Others interpret it as somehow or sometimes-Kadachit implying Syadvada as expressing probability which is also not quite fully justified.
35. In the Jain usage SYAT means a “Conditional Yes” or a conditional approval. It is like saying "In a certain sense-yes". As such it converts a categorical statement into a conditional the same time positive and free from doubt. Instead of saying “A” is “B” it will be said that “Syat A is B” i.e. Yes in a certain sense A is B or Yes if xxxx then A is B.
36. Thus applying the particle Syat to the seven fold predication mentioned above the following will be the true and complete statement of Saptabhangi position :
(i) Syat-Astr.Yes--In a certain sense it is or it exists (ii) Syat-Nasti - Yes - In a certain sense it is not or it does
not exist. (iii) Syat-Asti-Nasti-Yes--In a certain sense it is and it is not
or it exists and does not exist. (iv) Syati Avaktaya:Yes- In a certain sense it is inexpressible. (v) Syat Asti-Avkta vya Yes- In certain sense it is and it is in
expressible-or both it exists and is inexpressible. (vi) Syat Nasti-Avktavya-Yes-in a certain sense it is not and
it is in expressible i.e. both does not exist and is inex
pressible. (vii) Syat Asti Nasti Avkta vya-Yes - In a certain sense it is, it
is not and is inexpressible i.e. it exists, it does not exist and it is inexpressible.
37. The word Syat used in all the seven predications makes the formulation unique in as much as it makes the statement adhere to non-one-sidedness-Anekantvada by discarding dogmatism and intolerance and introducing an element of open mindedness. It concedes the opponent's thesis in order to blunt the sharpness of his attack and disagreement, and at the same time, it is calculated to pursuade the apponent to see another point of view. Thus the Jaina use of Syat has both-it has a disarming effect and contains (implicitly) a persuasive force.
38. The philosophy and principles underlying Anekantavada,