Jaina View of Life

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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Jaina view of Life
rules over men and protects them. Evambhūta not only sees the difference between words with their different etymologies; but it sees the difference between one and the same word, if it does not signify the meaning denoted by the root in the word. For instance, there is a difference between rāja when he is shining and räjā when he is not shining. In this we give a word a fixed meaning, something by usage. For instance, a ‘nut has come to mean in English a showy man.
The Cambridge philosophers and analytic school of philosophy in the present day assert the exclusive application of the form of Paryāya Naya to express Sabda-nayābhāsa.
In Evambhūta Naya we restrict the meaning of the word to the very function connoted by the name. It is a specialised from of the Samabhirūąha. For instance, a building will be called a house as long as it is used for residential purposes. But if it is used for office purposes, it will not be appropriate to call it a house.
Thus, each Naya or point of view represents one of the many ways for which a thing can be looked at. The Nayas remind us that our points of view looking at the things are relative, and over-emphasis on one point of view as absolute and the only point of view would be a mistake. It would give an ābhāsa, or appearance of truth, only. It gives rise to the wrong point of view. According to the Jainas, Nyāya-Vaišeşika, Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta and the Buddhist systems adopt one of the Nayas; but they believe that their point of view is absolute and unerring. However, they present only partial truths. The Jainas point out that the controversy regarding causation presenting different views like the asatkāryavāda and the satkāryavāda, are one-sided and partial. But an object can be described in different ways. For instance, a gold necklace will be gold if we consider the substance out of which it is made but if it is looked at from the point of view of the modifications, it may be described differently. Similarly, each Naya has a different extent. Naigama Naya has the greatest, and the