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Appendix 1 : Interpretation of Philosophical Concepts
- 2) Kevala-jñāna or Omniscience: This is a typical
Jain technical term. According to Srimad Kevala-jñāna can be acquired only after total destruction of jñānāvaranīya (knowledge obscuring) karmas, and
stopping the influx of such karmas which can be done I only when a sādhaka is totally free from all kașāyas
(rāga, dveșa and moha) and on abandoning all wordlly activities, which involve violence, attachment, ego etc.
Such knowledge is like light. One possessing such į knowledge can see not only material things, but also
sentiments (bhāva) and can also experience his own self. a Therefore, such knowledge is defined as kevala-jñāna,
which can see things as they are and in totality. A person possessing this knowledge can comprehend smallest part of time called 'samaya', smallest part of an article or material called 'paramānu' and minutest part of an invisible substance ( like soul ) called 'pradeśa' (letter No. 679). A soul acquires such knowledge only when it is in its purest state and is free from passions, desires etc. In such state the soul is clean ( spotless) as a crystal. Whatever can be comprehended in such state is omniscience. In letter no. 710, he has defined omniscience as that knowledge which exists when one is in one's pure "nature“. In verse no. 113 of his Ammasiddhi, he has defined omniscience as that pure cognition
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