8 ways to acquire knowledge
In Jainism, knowledge is said to come in five kinds, not eight:
- Mati jnana (sensory/mind knowledge) — knowledge gained through the senses and the mind.
- Shruta jnana (scriptural knowledge) — knowledge gained from scriptures and learned teachers.
- Avadhi jnana (clairvoyant knowledge) — direct knowledge beyond ordinary perception.
- Manah paryay jnana (telepathic or thought-transference knowledge) — direct knowledge of others’ thoughts.
- Kevala jnana (omniscience) — complete, perfect knowledge attained by a liberated soul (kevali).
These five are described in authentic Jain sources and differ in how they are acquired and validated. If you’d like, you can read more on this explanation here .
Note: Some Jain traditions discuss variations in how these pramāṇas are understood, but the common teaching across major Jain schools highlights these five as the core means of knowledge.