Jainism and World Problems

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 85

THE FIVE LABDHIS
THE FIVE LABDHIS
As the Tirthamkaras have taught, no one can acquire Right Knowledge unless he be endowed with what are known as the labdhis first. One may be very learned and even thoughtful; but unless the labdhis are present and operative in his intelligent nature he will not attain to Right Knowledge. In Europe, for instance, very many brilliant men like Kant, Herbert Spencer and Darwin have arisen, but not one of them was possessed of the real thing-Right Knowledge ! What is Right Knowledge, then? How is it to be distinguished from what is not Right Knowledge?
Right Knowledge is knowledge of things that matter, and is free from error, doubt and ignorance. Strictly speaking Right Knowledge is possessed only by the kevalis (who have attained to Omniscience); but for practical purposes what is essentially in agreement with the Teaching of the All-Knowing Souls is also termed Right Knowledge.
What are the things that do matter, whose knowledge is so very essential?
They are the things that will enable the miserable mortal termed man to obtain Immortality, Perfection in respect of Knowledge and Bliss and Power! In Europe they will still laugh at you if you say this before their learned men ! That is why I have said above that not one of the European thinkers was possessed of Right Knowledge. Even within the range of the materialistic sciences their knowledge is incomplete and not free from error, doubt and ignorance. Faraday and Newton, for instance, had ideas of electricity and gravitation which the men of to-day think were involved in error, at least in certain particulars. All that you can say about their claim to Right Knowledge is that, in a certain measure, they possessed an inkling into certain aspects of some of the things; but Right Knowledge is too sacred a term to be applied to what is as best only a working
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