________________
106
Hermann Kuhn
These two intensities of direct mental perception (manah-paryaya) differ in their degree of clarity and in the possibility of losing this ability again. (24)
Two factors determine the degree in which direct mental perception manifests:
- The clarity of insight we receive through this abil.
ity depends on the amount of corresponding karma that has already been dissolved (or become inactive).
Complex direct perception (vipulamati) is far clearer than simple direct perception (rjumati). It recognizes far subtler forms of matter and dimensions of reality than is accessible to simple direct perception.
- The possibility to loose this ability again depends on our decision which path we chose to reach higher stages of development (see 14 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT - gunasthana 7).
We experience direct mental perception from the seventh to the twelfth stage of development. Stage seven (apramatta virata) offers us two paths for further progress: 1 - The suspension of karma - Here most of our re
maining karma recedes into a latent, inactive state and thereby enables us to experience the character of the higher stages. The path leads only to level 11, from where we go back to the seventh level. The ascent beyond level 11 is blocked as long as our inactive emotional attachments (i.e. our existing latent karma) obstruct further advancement.
As long as we choose this path and avoid dissolving our remaining karma, we only experience the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org