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236
Christian Lindtner
Jambū-jyoti
8.
Here, moreover, a learned (student) should (only) take up a debate after he has decided whether the place, the time, the participants, etc. are important or unimportant, and after he has become familiar with the philosophy of the Jina.
XIII. Eight Verses on a Debate about Dharma The scope of a moral debate is simply to acquire [an understanding] of the meaning (of the scriptures etc.) in question, based on various texts. It can be defined as a means of producing dharma.
2.
These are the five means of purifying oneself accepted by all moral persons : Non-violence, truth, not stealing, liberality and avoidance of sexual intercourse.
Where these five reasonably belong in their fundamental sense, and where they do not [belong], this is something that should be considered scientifically based on a text by means of an interpretation of that text.
4.
Moral
Moral people, however, are not required to provide a definition of the means of knowledge, etc. This is because it would not serve any purpose etc. Accordingly, the great sage (Siddhasena] has said [in his Nyāyāvatāra 2 :]
"The sources of valid knowledge are already well-known, and so is the conduct based upon them. It, therefore, serves no purpose to provide a definition for proof] of the sources of valid knowledge."
Surely, one may try to establish [a pramāna] either by proving it by means of (another] pramāna, or without doing so. But in the first case], how can one logically give a reasonable proof of the (pramāna that has to be established] by one that has not yet been defined for ascertained to exist] ?
7.
Alternatively, what is the point of providing a defination (of a pramana], if the (pramāna) has been established by another pramana that has not been ascertained to exist ? It is simply mental blindness !
8.
Moral persons should, therefore, free from desire, simply consider [moral] matters as they are stated [in the scriptures] with diligence, for this is the only way] to perfect one's desired aims.
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