________________
162
Reals in the Faina Metaphysics such as, 'here there is no pitcher', etc. In the same way, the reason for the negative view of darkness and shadow cannot be put in this way, 'because these are due to causes which are different from those that produce a substance'. An effect, according to the Nyāya position is due to 'intimate' (Samavāyi), ‘non-intimate' (Asamavāyi) and 'immediate' (nimitta) pre-conditions. The Jaina thinkers object to this view of causation. Even admitting the Nyāya theory of causation, the negative view of darkness and shadow is hardly justifiable. (If you ask) What is the cause of darkness ?-(we may similarly ask) what do you say about the cause of light? (If you say that the causes of light are the molecules of light) (we may say, that the causes of darkness are) the molecules of darkness and shadow. Thirdly, the reason for the negative view of darkness and shadow cannot be said to be 'because darkness and shadow become apparent when light is said to be nonexistent'. For, it cannot be said to be a general rule that anything appearing when any other thing disappears must be an unsubstantial negation of the latter. It may also be pointed out that a similar line of argument would prove that light is but the negation of darkness. Light appears when darkness disappears. If it be contended that light has the positive attribute of heat it may be said that darkness also has the positive attribute of coolness. How then can it be said that darkness is but the negation of light? The fourth argument in support of the negative view of darkness is thus expressed by Samkara and Nyāyabhusaņa. The conditions that are requisite for the perception of light are found to be requisite also for the perception of darkness; hence the former is a substance while the latter is its unsubstantial negation. The Jaina thinkers point out that a similar line of arguments would show that light is but the unsubstantial negation of darkness and that a pitcher and cloth would be but unsubstantial negations of each other. Fifthly, the reason for the negative conclusion about darkness is said to be 'because there is no cause productive of the alleged substance of darkness'. Srīdhara points out that there cannot be any
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
