________________
unbiased attitude is also the pre-condition of right knowledge, In order to know the infinite aspects of reality, a many pronged approach is a sine qua non of right knowledge. The one sided view-point or a biased enquiry tinges the truth. Hence one sidedness, extremism and biasness hinder the realization of truth. The Jaina philosophy enjoins that personal prejudices must be discarded and an impartial attitude should be cultivated. Only the integral and synthesis approach can give us a full vision of reality, which is the right knowledge. Right knowledge is the knowledge of a thing in all its infinite facets and it is possible only through gestalt view (Samagra Drsti).
Alternatively, Jainism also holds that right knowledge consists in discrimination between self and non-self. It is true that the self, the knower, cannot be made the object of knowledge. It is not possible to know the self on the basis of knower-known relationship. The self is the knower and the knower can never become an object of knowledge. This makes knowledge of self unique. But the knowledge of non-self is possible through knower-known relationship. Even an ordinary man can know through his common-sense that whatsoever is the object of his knowledge is not his self, but non-self. Right knowledge is the knowledge of self and self can be known only with reference to nonself. Knowing the nature of non-self and differentiating it from self is the science of discrimination (Bheda-Vijñāna) and this constitutes the essential meaning of right knowledge in the Jaina Philosophy.
Ācārya Kundakunda has made an exhaustive study of the science of discrimination (Bheda-Vijñāna) in his book Samayasāra (207, 210), he says -
Puggala kammam koho tassa vivagodao havadi eso.. na hu es a majjhabhavo janagabhavo du ahamikko, udayavivago viviho kammanam vannido jinavaraehim na du te majjha sahava janaga bhavo du ahamikko.
Jainism and its History 168
