Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Ramjee Singh
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

Page 65

Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion
to our senses. Thus, there are two separate fields of investigation1, science and spirituality. Science deals with spatiotemporal phenomena with the help of senses and commonsense reasoning including scientific experiment. But there are other fields also, unexplored and also beyond the scope of scientific reach. It seems that there are different ways of knowing. True, there is the western emphasis on critical intelligence and eastern emphasis on creative intuition but there is universal recognition of the spirit in man. It is necessary to be reasonable and not logical. Our whole logical life grows on the foundations of a deeper insight. If intuitive knowledge does not supply us with universal major premises which we can neither question nor establish, our life will come to an end. Intuitions are not substitutes for thought. They are challenges to intelligence. This spirit of man or creativity is felt everywhere in artistic achievement and poetic genius, religious experiences and ethical life, in scientific genius and psychological life.2
56
The concept of omniscience is such a concept, which can admit of vindication (justification actions) on the ground of faith which is supported by the seers having intuitional insight. Modern researches in the field of para-psychology specially in clairvoyance, clair-audience, precognition, telepathy etc. also support the knowledge which can be gained by transcending space-time and the senses. The science of Yoga can be also examined in this direction. It has been the abiding spiritual ambition of man to extend the frontiers of his knowledge. The very attempt to put a limit, an absolute limit to our knowledge is unscientific. It was customary for the old philosophy to discredit the knowledge gained by the senses,
1. Sanmati-Tarka of Siddhasena Divākara, III. 43-45; Aptamimamsa, of Samantabhadra, 76-78.
2. Radhakrishnan, S.: An Idealistic View of Life (London : Geye Allen & Unwin, 1947), Ch. IV; Intellect and Intuition, Ch. V; The Spirit in Man.