________________
Direct Knowledge
373
achieving total freedom from the karmic matter. Samvara stops the new inflow while nirjarā exterminates the same in store. The Path leading to Kevalajñāna
Kevalajñāna, as we have stated above, is the state of perfection. According to Jainism it means the state of omniscience while other systems hold different views about it. But, they are unanimous in one respect, viz., that it is the highest stage of ethical attainment. They also agree, except the Nyāya and Vaiśesika systems, that it is knowledge of the highest truth. The conception of highest truth is different with every system. According to the realist school of buddhists it is the fourfold noble truth. According to Yogācāra it is Ālayavijñāna and according to Mā Ihyamika it is void (sünya). Perfect knowledge to these systems, is the realization of truth as held in their respective views. The Vedānti holds Brahman as the highest truth. Consequently, it holds the knowledge of Brahman as the perfect knowledge. The Sarkhya maintains that the realization of distinction between praksti and purusa is the perfect knowledge. According to Jainism the highest truth is the relative existence of every object. All objects of the world are so interrelated that perfect knowledge of one is impossible without knowing all. This factor is further supported by the canonical maxim, as he knows all who knows one; who knows all, he knows one. Thus, the comprehensive view of the relative existence is impossible without knowing all things. This led to the conception of omniscience as the highest kaowledge.
Nearly, all the systems, except Nyāya-Vaisesika and Mimāṁsā, hold discursive knowledge as the cognition of falsity or half-truth. According to Jainism, all types of knowledge except kevala have only a partial view of an object. The conception produced by them presents the truth in a part only. It is kevala that can realize the truth completely. Thus, according to Jainism, omniscience is both; it is knowledge of the entire universe as well as the koowledge of reality, According to other systems the knowledge of reality is something above the knowledge of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
