Jaina Logic

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Raja Krisen Jain Charitable Trust New Delhi

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Jaina Logic (1) Pratyakqa (direct), (2) Paroksa (indirect) with its subdivisions. In this tradition sense knowledge is not diroct, because sense-organs are impediments to the direct cognition by the self. The soul is obstructed from getting direct cognition in this type of experience Knowledge that soul gets directly without the help of the sense organs is direct knowledge (pratyakşa). Sthananga clearly makes these distinctions."
The third stand-point has brought about a slight modification in the classification of knowledge. This classification distinguishes matijħana (sense experience) into two types as pratyakşa (direct) due to sense organs and parokşa (indirect) due to the mind. This tradition takes into consideration the views of other Indian philosophers. With a view to avoiding ambiguity and confusion, they have designated the sense experience (matijñāna) also as pratyakşa. There are two types of pratyakşa (1) Samvyavahārika pratyakşa. It is matijñāna or sense experience. (2) Nija pratyakşa which the self gets without the help of the sense organs. The forms of this pratyakşa are avadhi, manahparyaya and kevala. From the point of view of the purity and certainty of knowledge there is a graduated excellence from the matijħana to kevalajñana. Knowledge obtained through mind only is parokşajšāna. These stages of the knowledge have been scientifically analysed by later Ācāryas. The mental states like memory (smrti), recognition (pratyabhijna) have been defined with reference to the metaphysical implications. But such analysis of the mental states like smarana and pratyabhijña in metaphysical overtones need not be adequate explanations about the nature of these mental states. In the Āgamic literature there was not much of logical and metaphysical disputation about these problems. But later logicians had to compete with other scholars belonging to different darsanas. Therefore, they effected modifications in the classifications of knowledge.
76. Sthananga.