Book Title: Jain Philosophy
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

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Page 123
________________ 96 came to abstract ideas. Really speaking, this theory has no basis in fact. There cannot be any nation which gives pictures, unless they have a clear idea formed of them. Therefore, the idea comes first, then they illustrate it by the picture and symbols. . There are reasons for using symbols. Why should they not use ordinary sentences in order to covey the higher truths or deeper sciences ? I think there are four reasons. One reason is that there are many deeper truths which ought not to be thrown away, as we say pearls should not be thrown to swise. There are many who do not appreciate these truths, and therefore they should be stated in symbolic language. So, secracy is the first reason. The second reason is that if they were expressed in ordinary language, certain people inight get hold of them and use them for injuring other people, and themselves also. So, protection is the second reason. The third reason is permanency. If anything is expressed in ordinary language, after a certain time we are liable to forget it, but if it is in the form of a picture we can remember it longer. The fourth reason is that the effect produced by the symbol is more intense than the impression made by ordinary language. These are the four reasons for mystical words and symbols. All ancient nations a sed them; Romans, Egyptians and Greeks used Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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