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Samādhitantram
The particle 'syāť in a sentence qualifies the acceptance or rejection of the proposition or predication. It refers to a 'point of view' or 'in a particular context or 'in a particular sense'. The ‘vāda' presents a theory of logic and metaphysics. Syādvāda means a theory of predication of reality from different points of view, in different contexts or from different universes of discourse. Syādvāda is the expression of the pictures of reality obtained from different points of view in definitive and determinate logical predications. There is no uncertainty or vacillation in expression. Syādvāda promotes catholic outlook of many-sided approach to the problem of understanding reality. It is anti-dogmatic and presents a synoptic picture of reality from different points of view. Syāduāda expresses protest against the one-sided, narrow, dogmatic and fanatical approach to the problems of reality. It affirms that there are different facets of reality and these have to be understood from various points of view by the predications of affirmation, negation and indescribability.
Ācārya Samantabhadra, in Āptamīmāṁsā: स्याद्वादः सर्वथैकान्तत्यागात् किंवृत्तचिद्विधिः । Hatinyait hucufastach: 11 (808) Discarding the absolutist (ekānta) point of view and observing the practice of using the word “kathancit' - 'from a certain viewpoint', or 'in a respect', or 'under a certain condition' - is what is known as syādvāda - the doctrine of conditional predications. It embraces the seven limbs (saptabhanga) of assertion, the one-sided but relative method of comprehension (naya), and also the acceptance and rejection of the assertion.
Syādvāda consists in seven vocal statements adorned by the qualifying clause ‘in a way' - syāt. When in regard to a single entity - soul etc. - an enquiry is made relating to its attribute - existence etc. - with all-round examination, there is the possibility of seven statements, adorned with the term 'quodammodo' or 'in a way' (syāt). This is called the 'seven-nuance system' (saptabhangī). When
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