Jainism Eternal and Universal Path for Enlightenment

Author(s): Narendra Bhandari
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 34

Anek 1 ntavid
One is many and many is one
Nature of the universe, Macro and micro world, Sy dvd, Saptabhangi
Jainism has given a unique concept of nature which is not found in any other thought. It is a deep conceptual doctrine, called Anekintavid, stating that the nature is multidimensional, multifaceted, having infinite modes of manifestation, all existing at once i.e. at the same time. Everything we think, see or imagine is a manifestation of the same ultimate truth, although on the face of it, some facets may even appear mutually contradictory. It is not merely a doctrine but it is also a physical reality, a true and complete description of nature, unlike the sciences which give an incomplete or partial description, depending on what is being observed. It also has application in day to day life for harmony and understanding at personal, societal, national and spiritual levels. Much has been said in praise of Anekintavéd. Understanding of Anekintav dis essential for getting correct world view or Samyag dar-an. Samyasar, one of the holiest scriptures of Jains, goes to the extent of saying that one who is equipped with anek ’nta attains Mok-a,
"Any real object in the world is existent and non existent (sat and asat), one and many, eternal and non-eternal (nitya and anitya), describable and indescribable (abhil -pya and anabhil pya), neither this nor that, but both i.e. this as well as that in terms of its nature, time, pradesh (space) and material (swaroop, k=1, kshetra, dravya and bh 1v)"!
This is how Amritchandra described Anekintavid. One may see a thing from any stand point (naya) and there are several nayas such as naigam naya (end use), samagra naya (universal or general view), vyavah ?r naya (practical view), rajusthra naya (current view), shabd naya (synonymous view), samviruddha naya (etymological view) and avambhoot naya (simily view) etc. When these naya propositions or