________________
The Jaina world of Non-living
once seen is not observed again due to the same reason (or neutralisation of charges). Q. Why the sound is not perceptible by other senses like the sense of sight etc.? 17. A. It is so because of its fineness. It is just like the fact that the nose receives only the smell of the objects and not their other properties like touch, taste etc. which are concomitant with it. These are finer properties. 18. Q. The sound is non-mattergic because it is the quality of nonmattergic space. A. This is not correct. There are many facts which prove mattergic nature of sound which are as below: (i) The sound is received by mattergic sense of hearing. No nonmattergic entity can be perceived by mattergic senses. (ii) It is driven by mattergic air like the mass of cotton to be received by the persons in different directions. The non-mattergic entity cannot be driven by the mattergic materials. (iii) It is obstructed by material objects like walls and cavities like water in a canal. Q. The Vaišeșikas point out that the above facts do not lead to prove the mattergic nature of sound. The sense of hearing is in the form of nonmattergic space. Thus, the non-mattergic sense of hearing can receive the non mattergic sound. Similarly, the sound cannot be driven by the air as it is a quality which does not have motion. This is received by distant persons because of production of newer sounds through combinations (of rod and drum), division (of bamboo) and other words. The strike by a fast moving material does not produce sounds. Therefore, there is no driving. The obstruction of sounds is also not truly obstruction as the strikes between mattergic bodies lead to mono-directional sound. Hence, the sound is non-mattergic. A. All these arguments are not correct. This cannot be ascertained that the sense of hearing is in the form of space because the nonmattergic space has no capacity of activisation. If it is said that the vital force (Adrşta) produces this capacity in space, it has to be enquired whether this force refines the space, soul or part of the body? It cannot
163
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org