Humanism of Haribhadra

Author(s): Christian Lindtner
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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Christian Lindtner
talking about. To others he teaches the dharma that he himself has discovered. In reality there is only one sarvajña, though there appears to be many (such as Mahāvīra, Buddha, etc.). What a Bhagavat teaches others is something-namely dharma-that in a sense transcends our senses, it is atīndriyārtha (YDS 98 & 144; YB 425 ff). The dharma that a Bhagvat has seen personally is not within the field (visaya) of anumana (YDS 144). Not even a Bhagavat can communicate true knowledge-it remains a matter of personal practice--but as a teacher he can teach a method of obtaining knowledge for one self. He can speak the truth, however.
Even though we must "take his word for it", his words must nevertheless not be in conflict with the common means of knowledge (pramāņa). As a rule, agama must be supported by yukti (LTN 16 & 18):
Jambu-jyoti
yac cintyamānamṁ na dadāti yuktiṁ pratyakṣato näpyanumānataśca | tad buddhiman ko nu bhajeta loke gośṛngataḥ kṣirasamudbhavo na []
āgamena ca yuktyā ca yo 'rthaḥ samabhigamyate | pariksya hemavad grāhyaḥ pakṣapātāgraheṇa kim ||
Needless to say, this method of scientific investigation is an old one in India, Already in the Carakasamhita, as known, we read: dvividham eva khalu sarvam-sac-cāsac ca—tasya caturvidhä parīkṣā: āptopadeśaḥ pratyakṣaṁ anumānaṁ yuktiśceti.
Therefore, to conduct a scientific parīkṣā, Haribhadra repeatedly emphasizes the need of the development of intelligence, dhi, buddhi, prajñā, mati. One of his favourite terms is sükṣmabuddhi, the subtle intelligence necessary for understanding dharma. Intelligence enables us to discern truth from falsehood, and without the faculty of discrimination there is no true knowledge. Man is a rational creature. To attain the highest form of yoga a philosopher must employ his intelligence in three ways:
ägamenǎnumānena dhyānābhyāsarasena ca |
tridhā prakalpayan prajñām labhate yogam uttamam ||
The verse is found in YB 412, and repeated in YDS 101 and BSS 62 (with the variants yogabhyāsarasena in b, and tattvam uttamaṁ in d). It is