________________
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
DECEMBER 2015
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE ENLIGHTEN YOURSELF BY SELF STUDY OF JAINOLOGY
LESSON - NINE
DR. KAMINI GOGRI In the following article we will study about the ninth knowledge. "As conscious, the souls experience in the topic: Theory of Knowledge.
three following ways. Some experience merely the fruits Just like the concept of reality, Jainism has its own of karma; some, their own activity; some again, theory regarding the existence and nature of soul. What knowledge". The Jaina thinkers and scholars were able is important to note is the fact that Jainism accepts the to discover that Cetana or consciousness culminates existence of soul. It is Atmavadi Darsana; and the soul, in pure and perfect knowledge and knowledge itself according to Jainism, has an inherent capacity to know has grades and modes. Kunda-Kundacarya observes all things, if the soul were in its perfection. Higher the that "Upyoga or understanding is of two modes, degree of purity higher the capacity to know. The main cognition and Sensation." Nemicandra says, cause of obscured capacity being Karmic obstructions, "understanding is divided into two species Viz: on the total destruction of all possible karmic veils, pure Darsana or sensation and Jnana or Cognition." Uma perception -'ananta Jnana' infinite knowledge) occurs. Svati says "Understanding is the distinguishing "In our empirical lives, the purity of the soul is defiled characteristic of the soul. It is of two sets (viz, Jnana by the absorption of the unconscious substance, or Cognition and Darsana or Sensation). The first is of matter. When the opposing energies are completely eight kinds and the second, of four." overthrown, the soul vibrates at its natural rhythm and The further description and classification of Upyoga exercises its function of unlimited knowing. Souls are or Understanding, as it appears in Jaina scriptures, substances characterized by intelligence, and their conclusively proves that the early Jain thinkers clearly differences are due to the degree of their connections grasped the basic which is essentially consciousness, with matter." (1) The varieties of perception is nothing Cetana or consciousness operates through upyoga or but the variation in degree of the karmic obstructions, understanding. or purity of Self. Thus like Jain ethics and religion, Jain The two modes of upyoga are Darsana and Jnana. epistemology is based upon the Jain doctrine of Karma. "That perception of the generalities (samanya) of things
Knowledge (Jnana) according to Jainas, "is the without particularities (visesa) in which there is no soul's intrinsic, inherent, inseparable and inalienable grasping of details is called darsana. attribute, without which no soul can exist. Knowledge Darsana or sensation is of four kinds - plays an important part in the conception of soul and Visual(Cakshusa) its emancipation. Jain epistemology or Jain theory of Non-visual(acakshusa) knowledge thus becomes vital in Jain philosophy. As Clairvoyant(avadhi) such Jain epistemology would include the theory of Pure (Kevala) knowledge along with various topics such as Darshana is said to consist in the sensation of the psychology; feelings emotions and passions, theory generality of objects in which the forms and particulars of causation, logic, philosophy of non absolutism and specification are not recognized. The first two kinds of the conditional mode of predication. But I, here in this the four are sensuous and both consists in the paper, propose to deal in brief with the types of consciousness that the eyes and other sense organs knowledge in Jain epistemology only.
are affected. Theory of Knowledge:
The last two kinds of sensation viz: Clairvoyant and According to Jainism, the soul, as it is, exists and Pure are of the super-normal type. Out of these two is consciousness (knowledge). The soul has power of the Clairvoyant or Avadhi darsana is the sensation of understanding. Consciousness and power of the mysterious parts or aspects of material things. The understanding are the most prominent inherent qualities Pure or Keval Darsana consists in sensing all things of the soul.
of the universe. Consciousness (Cetana), according to Jainas, is the process of understanding becomes more the power of the knowledge, the soul has. It stands for complicated and subtle when it is cognition or Jnana. the passive experience of the phenomena, the The Jaina scholars divide cognition or knowledge experience of psychical state leading to pure into two divisions viz: -
