Theory of knowledge

3 sources of knowledge - perception, Inference, testimony

Theory of knowledge

Important  points

·         Consciousness is the essence of soul. It is not an accidental property, arising under some conditions, as held by Carvakas. It manifests itself and other objects just as sun's light.

·         Omniscience is a potentiality inherent in every soul, but ordinary souls are all more or less ignorant, their knowledge is limited. This limitation is caused due to obstacles created by different karmas.

·         The body, senses and mind, are all constituted  by karmas and the soul's power is limited by them.

·         Immediate knowledge is only relatively immediate because here the soul knows through medium of senses and manas.

·         Really/absolutely immediate knowledge is attained by removing karma obstacles.

·         Avadhijnana(limited knowledge) - person partially destroyed the influence of karmas.

·         Manah-paryaya- overcome hatred ,jealousy which create obstacles that stand in the way of knowing other minds.

When all the karmas that obstacles knowledge are completely removed from the soul, there arises in it absolute knowledge. This is called kevala-jnana. Only the liberated souls have such knowledge.