Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
Chapter 1 - 117
The distinctions of numerous, few, varied, and unique are based on the diversity of topics. The remaining eight distinctions are based on the diversity of destruction and preservation.
How many distinctions have there been so far?
Thus, there are eighty-eight.
How so?
By counting four types of five senses and mind, one arrives at twenty-four, and with the classification of numerous, few, etc., that results in eighty-eight.
Now, generally speaking, the topic of avagraha (perception) concerns:
Avagraha, iha (this), ava (low), dharna (conception) are four forms of knowledge and perception.
What is meant by the object and the manifestation? Substance and manifestation are both referred to as objects. So, do the senses and conceptual perceptions (avagraha, iha, etc.) pertain to the substance in its form or in its manifestation?
The answering is that the aforementioned avagraha, iha, etc., knowledge primarily pertains to the manifestation; not to the complete substance. Substance is known only through its manifestations because the main factors of perception and mind are the manifestations themselves. The manifestation is a part of the substance; hence, when the senses or the mind recognize the manifested aspects of the substance through perceptions like avagraha, iha, etc., they partially come to know the substance itself because substance cannot remain without its manifestations, nor can manifestations exist without the substance.