Some Jain Concepts and Conduct

Author(s): Sushma Singhvi
Publisher: B J Institute

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[Some Jain Concepts and Conduct
Āgamas through three stages of development, viz, Vibhajyavāda (the method of answering a question by dividing the issues), nayavāda (the method of defining the framework of reference), and syädvāda (the prefixing of the particle syat, meaning ‘in a certain reference to a preposition, indicative of its conditional character)". Syādvāda asserts that the knowledge of reality is possible only by denying the absolutistic attitude. Vibhajyavāda :
It is perhaps the earliest phase of the doctrine of Anekāntavāda, which is found mentioned in the sūtrakrtānga where a monk is asked to explain things, through the principle of division of issues. Non practice of this principle is considered as anācāra”. The method of analysis in vibhajyavāda for dividing the issues is called dvipadāvatāra method, which is the key to anekāntavāda?. Those, who do not know this method of vibhajyavāda are named as 'bāla', ignorants. The Bhagawati sūtra provides many illustrations where a question is dealt with in Vibhajyavāda. On being asked by Gautam whether a person who says that he has taken the vow of desisting from committing injury to all sentient beings is a bonafied observer of the vow or a malafied imposter, Mahāvīra replied that if such person was incapable of distinguishing between the sentient and the insentient, or between the mobile and immobile living beings, he is the latter but otherwise he is a true observer of the vowo. Similarly on being asked by Jayanti which of the two, viz slumber and wakefulness, was preferable, he replied that for the sinful, it was the former, while for the virtuous the latter''. A resident of vāņijya village asked Mahāvīra that Do you eat Sarisava (skt. sadrśavaya friend and sarsapa mustarad seeds) or not, Mahāvīra answered the question by dividing the issue that the sarisavas are eatable and also not eatable.