Sambodhi 1994 Vol 19

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 61

Vol. XIX, 1994-1995
SOME COMMON ELEMENTS...
and not monotheistic in the early Vedic tradition. This aspect of monism is developed both by the seers of the Upanisads, and the Buddhists. If the criticism of Sankara the great Advaita philosopher be examined as Pracchanna Baudha it would indicate the close relationship of thought, but the terminology differs. This feature is fairly well documented by Bhartṛhari in his Vākyapadiya, where he expressly states that the permanent sabda, tries to explain the meaning of the phenominal world.
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Thus, the verbal communication about the phenomenal world is noted in its dual form, that of the spoken or written words on one side and the supreme reality behind the phenomenal world. It is interesting fact that this notion of the phenomenal world springing up from an undesirable sub-stratum is a significant feature of the Brahmanic and Buddhist thought.
The View of Knowledge
Epistemologically, its significance is a facetted view of complete knowledge. So it considers the knowledge of the universe, Prätibhäsika, Vyavahārika and Pārmārthika in its entirety. This thought that is multifacetted gives a different verbal picture of this mysterious world with its changing patterns in cyclic, Yang-Ying or linear dimensions to the observer who is a part of the universe or Brahmanda.
Problems of Communication
The undescribable entity of existance when communicated to the others gets a variety of names, as Eka, Advaita, Tathata, Sünya etc. A long drawn series of debates has undergone to prove the validity of the 'Word' used by a particular group. This situation of the linguistic communication is also a constant phenomenon, in which the changing pattern of the relationship of the spoken or recorded word and the meaning conveyed by it results in many debates. The main reason of this debate is the limited capacity of the words to convey, the specific meaning of its shade that is in the mind of the individual who expresses it but the listeners' or the readers' understanding is often not congruent with the idea expressed, but even contradictory ideas are generated from these words. This is an universe of verbal discourse in which Väda, Jalpa and Vitanḍā play their own role.