________________
589
be operated upon by the object outside in the world. This results in the formation, in the already familiar way, of the mental image which is projected outwards.
Thus, perception arises in consequence of the reaction of mind on the afferent stimulus. But for such reaction, the stimulus would only exhaust itself in the shape of movements; it might impart motion to the brain cells, but can never give rise to a knowledge of the object, that is, to a sense of awareness of its presence. Suppress the mental reaction, and you reduce the awareness of the object to its photo on the retina and the movements in the brain, with no one to perceive, or to cognize them.
THE HOLY TRINITY.
The act of perception takes place only in the mind, not by the mind going over 'bodily' to the spot where the particular object seen is actually lying. If the latter were the case, we should never see the whole of any object at a time, inasmuch as attention could then be directed only to a small portion of its surface, and because it is distance alone which widens the field of vision. Moreover, distant objects would appear very different from what they do, if the faculty of perceiving actually went over to them. Illusion would also be impossible then; for it arises in consequence of a misapprehension of the nature of the stimulus. Besides,
1st Volume of his Principles of Psychology. In its nature, attention signifies the convergence of the inner forces of life to a point, constantly moving in the present and forming the medium of sensation and action between the individual organism and the outside world. It is the point of mental concentration, and implies an attitude of will when it may be said to be at tension.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org