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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
siveness and oneness (aheda ?). The answer to this would be, that the real nature of the object does not express unity alone or diversity alone, it is complex and the predications have also to be complex. The predication of the unity does imply the expression of diversity though secondary & sometimes is mentioned as inexpressible. The unitary & synthetic approach to the understanding of the nature of a thing is expressed in the different predications as presenting the following aspects of the infinite nature of the object : (1) Kāla (time) (2) utmarüpa (self-nature) (3) artha (meaning) (4) sambandha (relation) (5) upakāra (function) (6) guņideśa (existence in a place) (7) samsarga(association) and (8) sabda (expression in words). In this way, by presenting the synthetic and the synoptic picture of the objects in its various aspects like its nature, its substance, relation, causality etc., we get a comprehensive nature of the objects. This is 'sakalādeśa', because it comprehends to the various attributes of the object in a synoptic way.
In predicating the nature of the objects like jiva, we lay emphasis on the predication of existence (astitva) & this predication implies the predications of the other aspects of the objects like its nature, its relation, its function, the time and the place in which it is to be found. We analyse this with the reference to the eight aspects :
(1) Kāla : When we predicate the existence of a thing like a pot, we also predicate the existence of the other attributes like its colour, its size, its quality of hardness, etc. For this reason, with reference to the aspect of time the other attributes along with the existence are non-different and can be comprehensively apprehended.
(2) Atma-rúpa : It refers to the real nature of the objects. In predicating the real nature of the object, as for instance of a pot (ghata), we have also to predicate the other attributes lil colour, its hardness etc., by implication. These attributes are inherent in the very nature of the objects. Therefore, the description of the objects implies the description of the inherent qualities.
(3) Artha : Existence is an attribute of the pot. Similarly, the attributes of blackness and hardness are related to the objects. All these attributes exists in the same place and therefore there is no difference between existence and other attributes with the view of (artha) meaning.
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