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Theory of Relativity
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been saved if the man had shown the wisdom of understanding the contrary view points. How the Doctrine Clarifies 'Sell?
The doctrine of Syadvada also clarifies the metaphysical doctrine of 'Self' and the ethical doctrine of 'Ahiriisa'( nonviolence ) as envisaged by the Jainas. The proposition 'Syad asti' is positive in character and points out to the positive attributes of the thing in question. These are individual attributes which belong to and inhere in the thing in question. Therefore, when the proposition 'Syad asti' is applied to 'Self', it conveys that "Self' is justified in its existence only from the point of view of its own individual attributes, modes, space and time. But when the other proposition of the doctrine namely 'Syád-nasti' is applied to it, it means that 'Self' does not possess the attributes, modes etc. which do not belong to it It is just like a pot which can be identified as a 'pot' only if it carries the attributes of a 'pot' but it cannot be identified as a pot if it carries the attributes which are foreign to it. So
identification of ‘Syat nästi' when applied to 'Self' would mean that if the self tries to adopt the attributes of Pudgala which are foreign to it, it is not the 'self'. In other words, Syadváda teaches us that 'Self' can be identified positively as 'Syad asti' only if it is viewed from its own attributes, and negatively as ‘Syad nosti' to show that it is not Pudgala etc. if it is viewed from the attributes, foreign to it.
Thus the doctrine of Syadvada gives clarity to the real character of the 'Self' and by the same process of reasoning, the real character of 'Pudgala', i. e., non-sentient things. Apekapta and Abimsa
More important aspect of Syadva da is, however, the subtlety with which it introduces the practice of Ahimsa ( nonviolence ) even in the realm of thought. The moment one begins to consider the angle from which a contrary view-point is put forward, one begins to develop tolerance, which is the
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