Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

Page 43

16
the birthright of every soul, Books, writtings, and scriptures may illustrate, wholly or in part, this truth; but the ultimate fact remains that no mere words can give full expression to the truths of Jainism which must be felt and realized within.
I have been often asked, " What is the origiou of the universe, according to the Jaiu view ?" We might as well ask: What is the origin of Being ? What is the source of God? etc. Philosophy in the priinitive state ( logically, not chronologically ) postulates an external, simple substance from which it attempts to explain the multiplicity of the complex. Philosophy in this sense assumes various forms. All of them attempt to interpret the law of causation, and in that attempt mnany, fatigued after the long mental strain, stop at some one thing, element, or principle ( physical or metaphysical) beyond which they have not mentally the ability to go. Some ( for instance, the Ionic philosophers ) called it water, fire, or air.
The Sankhya philosophy, in India, tried to explain evolution and even cosmic consciousness and the growth of organs, etc., as proceeding from the simple substance called Prakrits, or primordial matter. Modern science evolves all life from the simple protoplasm, In tracing every effect to a cause, when these pbilosophers stop at something they contradict themselves by not extending and applying the law of causation