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## First Study: Gathapati Ananda
[81] Ananda: Avadhi-Jnana
Infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite happiness, and infinite power of energy are the nature of the soul. Karma is the covering, according to Jain philosophy, they are pudgalatmak, concrete. They cover the nature of the soul. The nature of the soul is covered by them to the extent and in the way it is covered, it remains unmanifested. As the coverings of karma are removed - erased - by the soul's own firm determination, excellent results, pure emotions, and austerity, the nature of the soul is gradually revealed or manifested.
... The karmas that cover knowledge are called Jnanaavarana. In Jain philosophy, there are five types of knowledge: Mati-Jnana, Shruta-Jnana, Avadhi-Jnana, Manah-Paryaya-Jnana, and Kevala-Jnana.
The karma-pudgalas that cover or obscure them are called Mati-Jnanaavarana, Shruta-Jnanaavarana, Avadhi-Jnanaavarana, Manah-Paryaya-Jnanaavarana, and Kevala-Jnanaavarana respectively.
These five types of knowledge are revealed by the removal of these coverings. There are two divisions in them, indirect and direct. Direct knowledge is the direct perception of the object of knowledge by the soul without any other medium. Indirect knowledge does not have direct access to the object of knowledge. Mati-Jnana and Shruta-Jnana are indirect, because the cooperation of mind and senses is required there. In a gross way, we see an object with our eyes, we know it, it is called direct seeing. But it is only a colloquial language, therefore, in philosophy, it is called Saavyavaharik Pratyaksha. From the point of view of certainty, it does not come under Pratyaksha because there is a relationship, not direct, between the knower soul and the object of knowledge through the eyes.
Avadhi-Jnana, Manah-Paryaya-Jnana, and Kevala-Jnana do not require the help of senses and mind. There is direct access of knowledge to the object of knowledge. Therefore, they come under Pratyaksha-bhed. Among them, Kevala-Jnana is called Sakal Paramार्थिक Pratyaksha and Avadhi and Manah-Paryaya are called Vikal or incomplete Paramार्थिक Pratyaksha, they cannot know the complete Paryaya of the object of knowledge.
Avadhi-Jnana is that extra-sensory knowledge by which a person knows concrete or similar objects with a limit or boundary of substance, field, time, and emotion. The extent of Avadhi-Jnana is according to the intensity of the destruction of Avadhi-Jnanaavarana karma.
There is one more special thing about Avadhi-Jnana, it is innate in the Deva-Yoni and Naraka-Yoni. It is called Bhav-Pratyay Avadhi-Jnana. In these Yonis, as soon as the beings take birth, Avadhi-Jnana arises spontaneously through the appropriate destruction of Avadhi-Jnanaavarana. This means that they do not have to make efforts based on austerity for the destruction of Avadhi-Jnanaavarana. It is not even possible there.
By means of austerity, vows, renunciation, etc., nirjaramulak rituals, the Avadhi-Jnanaavarana-karma-pudgalas...