On Term Antahsamjna

Author(s): A Wezler
Publisher: A Wezler

Page 21

WEZLER : On the term Antahsamjna 131 most convincingly shown by Frauwallner84 about the Bhtgu-Bharadvaja-samvada viz. that it is not Samkhyic, -- provided that the doctrinal relation between this part of the Mbh. and the term antah-samjna is at all acceptable. The identity of the people who regarded all plants as antahsamjna is still obscure also as regards the tradition to which they belonged. It cannot even be regarded as certain that they were philosophers in the narrower sense of the word. But I am of the opinion that their view, even if it should not stand the test of a critical examination by modern biologists, is not only very interesting with regard to a history of Indian ideas, but should also evoke our sympathy in that it directly leads to sensitive and perceptive respect for plants - the only living beings who do not generally subsist by destroying the life of others. 84. Cf. bis " Untersuchungen zum Moksadharma. Die nichtsam khyistischen Texte " in : JAOS 45 (1925), p. 59 ff. (= Kleine Schriften, hrsg. v. G. Oberhammer u. E. Steinkellner, Wiesbaden 1982, p. 47 ff.).