New Dimensions in Jaina Logic

Author(s): Mahaprajna Acharya, Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Today and Tommorrow Printers and Publishers

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New Dimensions in Jaina Logic
Jinabhadragani Kşamāśramana, the author of the encyclopaedic Visesävasyaka Bhasya, extended the scope of this synthetic attitude to its utmost to find in every wrong philosophy a window which necessarily opened towards the complete truth. His plea.is that the sum of all the perverted views is essentially the right view. A heterodox philosophy (para-siddhanta) is a true doctrine in so far as it opens up a vista of true philosophy (sva-siddhanta).31 The doctrines propounding universals, particulars, permanence, flux, etc. are parts of a grand philosophy. A rational synthesis of these is the right view as propounded in Jaina philosophy, 32 which does not believe in refutation or support of any particular standpoint, but exhibits the fullness of truth as composed of manifold views in their proper perspectives.
Dialogue
Question 1. Was not any attempt made at synthesis of views in the Agamic period? Was not there any method of comparative study of religions at that time?
Answer. The entire corpus of the Agama literature is not available at present. But from whatever is extent, it can be said that the method of relative and synthetic estimation was recognised at that time. The philosophers of the philosophical period, of course, developed the seed embedded in the scriptures.
In the Agamic literature we find three kinds of doctrines, viz. (1) those which were its own, (2) those which were propounded by others, and (3) those which were upheld jointly by both. This obviously implies that the thinkers of that period studied the alien systems along with their own, and this was but natural for them as they believed in synthesis.
Question 2. Is it possible to synthesise the universal with the particular, unity with plurality?
Answer. Monism banks upon the universal. The monistic philosopher arrives at the summit of synthetic view of things by propounding monism and declaring the unreality of pluralism. It is only identity that is accepted by the monist at the cost of diversity which he considers to be a futility.
The approach of the Buddhists was radical, pluralistic, and analytic. They reached the pinnacle of analytical view and declared that the particulars are the only truth, the universal or the