________________
Parikṣāmukham
17
Śruta Jñana is knowledge derived from words spoken or from gestures or facial expressions, from reading books and from all other kinds of signs or symbols.
Avadhi Jiana is the knowledge directly acquired by the soul without the medium of the activity of the mind or the senses1. Knowledge in the hypnotic state is the nearest approach to an illustration. As this knowledge also is acquired through the medium of the brain and the senses according to the Jain view, this can not be accepted as an example of Avadhi Jñana.
Manaḥparyaya Jñana is the knowledge of thoughts of others. Thought-reading may be mentioned to convey some feeble idea of this kind of knowledge. According to Jainism, no lay man can have this knowledge. Only a saint in a particular stage of spiritual advancement can acquire or develop this knowledge. Kevala Jñana is omniscience or knowledge unlimited by space, time or object. According to Jainism, Jain saints who completely practise right faith, right knowledge and right conduct can attain this knowledge. In the Hindu Purāņas, some saints are said to have such a knowledge and are called Sarvajñas or Trikāladarśīs.
These eight kinds of knowledge viz. Mati, Kumati, Śruta, Ku-śrutra, Avadhi, Vibhangavadhi, Manaḥparyaya and Kevala are classified from another point of view into two classes viz. Pratyakşa and Parokşa and these two constitute the Pramaņas of the Jain Logic1.
1 " परापेक्षां विना ज्ञानं रुपिणां भणितोऽवधिः ।"
Tattvärthasara by Amritachandra Sūri I. 25.
2. “ परकीयमनः स्पार्थज्ञानमक्षानपेक्षया ।
F: " Tattvarthasara I. 28. 3 " णाणं अडवियप्पं मदिसुदओही अणाणणाणाणि । मणपज्जय केवलमवि पच्चक्ख परोक्खभेयं च ॥"
Jain Education International
Dravya-samgraha 5.
4 "मतिश्रुतावधिमनः पर्ययकेवलानि ज्ञानम् ।” P-3
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
