Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion

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

Page 80

Chapter Six NON-ABSOLUTISM AND OMNISCIENCE (1) Is Non-absolutism Absolute ?
Is non-absolutism is absolute, it is not universal since there is one real which is absolute and if non-absolutism is itself nonabsolute, it is not an absolute and universal fact. “Tossed between the two horns of the dilemma non-absolutism thus simply evaporates.”! But there are also the following points :
(a ) Every proposition of the dialectical seven-fold judgement is either Complete or Incomplete. In complete judgement, we use only one word that describes one characteristic of that object and hold the remaining characters to be identical with it. On the other hand, in Incomplete Judgement, we speak of truth as relative to our standpoints. In short, Complete Judgement is the object of valid knowledge (pramapa) and Incomplete Judgement is the object of aspectal knowledge (Naya )4. Hence the "non-absolute is constituted of the absolute as its elements and as such would not be possible if there were no absolute,"5
1. Mookerjee, S. : The Jaina Philosophy of Non-absolutism,
Bharati Mahavidyalaya, Calcutta, 1944, p. 169. 2. Umāsvāmí: Tattvārthadhigama-sūtra, Central Jaina Pub
lishing House, Arrah, T. 6; Vidyānanda : Tattvārtha-śloka-vārttikam, 1. 6. 3, (Ed.) Manoharlal, Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay, 1918, p. 118, IV. 43; Vadideva Suri : Pramāņa-naya-tattvalokālankāra, IV. 43, Kashi, Editor
Himanshu, Vijaya Vira Samvat 2437. 3. Tattvartha-śloka-vārttika, p. 118; Pramāņa.naya-tattva
loka, IV. 45. 4. Pūjyapāda : Sarvārtha-Siddhi, Bharatiya Jñana Pitha,
Kashi, 1955, p. 20. 5. Mookerjee, S. : Ibid, p. 171.