Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 33

SYADWAD & THEORY OF RELATIVITY
17 today, I am confident that if Shankaracharya had. taken the trouble of reviewing Jain Philosophy by its original tenets, he would not have thought it fit to oppose the Jain Religion"
Thus, Syadwad, because of its complexity has met too many such superficial preferences and discussions. On the other hand the Jain Acharyas have reduced this complexity to such a simplicity at places that even a layman can grasp the heart of Syadwad For instance, when questioned. as to how three mutually opposite properties viz, "the beginning,' 'the end' and 'the permanent existence could be found in the same thing at the same time, a Jain Acharya replied “When a goldsmith was breaking a golden pitcher and making a golden crown out of it, three customers came to him One wanted a golden pitcher, another wanted a golden crown and the third wanted only metallic gold When they saw the goldsmith's activity, the first was sorry to note that he was breaking the pitcher, while the second was happy to note that he was making a crown. The third remained in an indifferent state of emotion because he wanted only metallic gold (in any form). It means that in the same gold, at the same time one is seeing 'the destruction,' (the end) the other the creation' (the beginning) and the third 'permanent existence of gold Thus everything in its own nature possesses the triple properties above-mentioned.