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Philosophy As Criticism - 1
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The idea of persistence, they seem to argue, does not entail the rejection of the idea of change (in modes and qualities).
In this connection Matilal has made a significant observation, clarifying the Jaina standpoint on the issue. Drawing a distinction between continuity and permanence, he writes:
The former notion means persistence...(pravāhanityalā). The latter notion means immutability. It is the notion in the back-ground of which the triple character of origination, destruction and continuity becomes meaningful. 'Continuity', on the other hand, is a notion essen
tially dependent upon origin and decay.--
In support, the observations of Kundakunda and his commentator are cited. Kundakunda's observation is as follows:
There is no origin without destruction, nor is there any destruction without origin, and neither is destruction
nor origination possible without what continues to be."
The commentator Amriacandra Suri explains the above statement with a simple example. If a pol is produced from a lump of clay, the persistence of the clay (substance) itself is made possible by the origin and destruction of the pol. He argues:
If we do not accept it as true, origin, decay and continuity all three will then be really different from one another. In that case, when the mere origin of the pot is sought after, then either it will not originate for there will not be any (rcal) cause for its origin, or there will be the origination of the non-existent (an unicnable paradox). If the pot does not originate, no bhāvas (things) will originate. If there is origination of the non-cxistent (asat), then the sky-flower etc. will come into being. Similarly, if mere destruction of the lump of clay is attempted (to the exclusion of the production of the pot), then cither there will not be any destruction of the lump for want of any (rcal) cause for such destruction, or there will be destruction of the exis
tent or being (another untenablc position)."
This signifies that the complexity of the object is understandable in terms of the ideas of persistence as well as changes. No doubt, these terms qua terms, may be considered 'opposilcs' just as the two
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