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Categories of Knowledge Obtained Through the Mind
There are four categories of mind-generated knowledge: Avagraha, Ihā, Avāya, and Dhāraṇā. Each of the five senses and the mind has four categories of mind-generated knowledge. Therefore, counting the four categories of each of these six (five senses and one mind), there are twenty-four categories of mind-generated knowledge. Their names are as follows:
1. Sparśana
2. Avagraha
3. Ihā
4. Avāya
5. Dhāraṇā
6. Rasana
7. Ghrāṇa
8. Chakṣu
9. Śrotra
10. Manas
The characteristics of the aforementioned four categories are as follows:
1. Avagraha is the knowledge of a generality without specific imagination related to name, species, etc. For example, in deep darkness, when something is touched, the knowledge that “this is something” arises. In this knowledge, it is not known what exactly was touched, hence this unexpressed knowledge is Avagraha.
2. Ihā is the consideration that occurs to specifically determine the general subject perceived through Avagraha. For example, if there is doubt whether the touch is of a rope or a snake, the consideration arises that it must be the touch of the rope, because if it were a snake, it would not remain silent after such a sharp hit. This consideration is the possibility or Ihā.
3. Avāya is the more focused (concentration-driven certainty) determination of the specific that was perceived through Ihā. For instance, after thinking and investigating for some time, if it is determined that this is not the touch of a snake, but rather of a rope, this is called Avāya.
4. The determination in the form of Avāya persists for some time, then it ceases due to the mind switching to another subject, yet it leaves such an impression that in the future, it might be recalled.