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1168
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER XXIV.
What the Opponent means is that in this way the Cognitions of Colour, Taste, etc. might be said to have one and the same objective basis.
The answer to this is as follows: The same objection, etc. etc.';'To Cognitions of Colours-i.e. to Cognitions envisaging Colour--this same objection is equally applicable.-How can there be a single objective basis for the distinct Cognitions of things far and near ?
All this objection is applicable to those who uphold the reality of the External World, who attribute the form to the Object, not to the Cognition. Those, however, who uphold the Idea alone, i.e. the Idealists,--for them all Cognition is equally objectless, being self-cognised, and is produced in the distinct and other forms; and hence to these Idealists, the objection does not apply.-Those upholders of the External World who attribute the form to the Cognition do not admit that there is absolute sameness of form between the Object and the Cognition; so that there would be the same form, in certain aspects; and hence there would be no incongruity in there being the same object for Cognitions appearing as diverse ; consequently, the objection would not be applicable to these also.-(2524)
Question: "What proof then is there against the idea that the Word. Sound is apprehended only on contact with the Auditory Organ,-and in support of the idea that it is apprehended without such contact ?" Answers
TEXT (2525).
UNDER THE VIEW THAT THE PERCEPTION (OF SOUND) IS THROUGH CONTACT (WITH THE SENSE-ORGAN), THE COGNITION OF THE SOUND OF THUNDER COULD NOT BE IN THE INTERRUPTED FORM,
LIKE THAT OF THE TEATHER IN THE EAR.-(2625)
COMMENTARY.
Like the feather in the Ear',--this is an instance per dissimilarity: and the vali'-affix is added to the word ending in the Genitive ending. The meaning thus is when a man is engaged in tickling the Ear with a feather, the Sound made by the feather is heard as continuous, without interruption; in the same manner, when there is Sound of Thunder spreading all round like the filaments of the Kadamba flower, and it is heard on reaching the Ear,-then this hearing also should be continuous, not interrupted.-- It cannot be right to say that there is illusion of break on account of the peculiarity of the substratum wherein the conjunction of its Cause subsists. Because there is no perception of such place, etc.; and no Cognition ever appears which imposes forms which have never been cognised; e.g. the Visual Perception does not impose the form of Taste.-(2525)
Having thus stated the proof against the view that Sound is heard on getting into contact with the Sense-organ, the Author next states the proof in support of the view that the perception takes place without the said contact :