Gems of Jainism

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

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Gems of Jainism
therefore a thing can both be and not be. When we say a thing is, it is always under certain conditions. If these conditions are not there, the thing will not be there. The thing is because of those conditions. Apart from those conditions, the thing is not. So any object according Jain darshan has a 'conditional existence'. In other words things have relative existence. To denote the relative existence of a thing the Jains use the word Syäd. Syād in Sanskrit means probability. In ordinary logic we say the pot is (ghat asti). In - Jain Darshan one does not say the pot is but one says 'probably the pot is '(syād ghat asti)
The structure of human body is such that it is impossible for it to have absolute knowledge of anything. The senses can give only relative knowledge. Therefore absolute propositions are not recognised by Jain Logic. Jain Logic recognises seven relational propositions which are called Naya. It is also called Saptabhangi Naya. Now a pot is in the form of clay. So as a form the pot is but in fact pot is clay. And therefore when we look to form a pot is and when we look to clay a pot is not. And therefore Jain Logic would say probably a pot is and is not. This is how Jain Darshan expounds the relativism of knowledge.
The question is can there be any relativism without there being any Absolutism ? Relative is always with reference to an absolute. There cannot be any “relative” without there being any “Absolute”. This is very obvious. I for one do not understand how such an obvious thing could not be noticed by Jain philosophers. Jain logic does imply an Absolute. In other religions and philosophics such absolute is called God. For me a doctrine of relativism cannot be logically, sustained without absolutism. And when I view this position in this manner I have an unavoidable feeling and a sort of conviction that in relativism as expounded by Syädwād, Absolutism is implied. In other words Syādwäd discloses an implied Absolutism.
Now we go to Jain Doctrine of souls in state of liberation. According to Jain Darshan all Jivas are intrinisically alike. And in the state of Liberation all Jivas possess infinite knowledge, infinite happines, Infinite power and infinite bliss. These characteristics are