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22
Tattvarthasutra
[1. 18-19
It was not as if the perception was absent, but it was certainly present in the pot. When the quantity of water increased and the pot's absorption capacity diminished, moisture began to be visible, and the water that could not initially fit in the pot’s belly started to gather on the upper surface and became visible. In the same way, when a dormant person is called, the sound seems to vanish in their ears. After calling two or four times, when the quantity of audible sounds fills their ears sufficiently, just like the initially moistening pot, the ears of that dormant person become filled with sounds and are then capable of recognizing in a general way, 'What is this?' This is the general knowledge that first identifies the sound as clear and distinct. After this, the sequence of specific knowledge begins. That is to say, just as a dry pot gradually becomes moist with the continuous falling of water droplets and water becomes visible in it, similarly, with the prolonged association of sound particles, the ears of the dormant person become filled and are able to recognize those sounds in a general way, and then they understand the specifics of the sounds. Although this sequence also fully applies to the alert person like the dormant one, it occurs so swiftly that it is hardly noticed by ordinary people. Therefore, the analogy of the pot is shown with the dormant person.
The example of a mirror is suitable for the stream of knowledge in the process of sequence. Just as when an object comes in front of a mirror, its reflection appears instantly, and it becomes visible. For this, the actual association of the object with the mirror is not necessary, just like the actual association of sounds with the ears. Only the presence of a reflective mirror and the object to be reflected in a suitable place is required. As soon as this presence occurs, the reflection appears, and it is immediately visible. Similarly, when a colored object comes in front of the eye, it starts to become visible in a general manner instantly. For this, the association of the eye with the object is not required, just like the association of the ears with sounds. Only the appropriate proximity of the eye and the object, like that of a mirror, is necessary. This is why in the process of sequence, the first consideration is for the grasping of meaning.
The place of the grasping of particulars is in the slow sequential knowledge stream, not in the process of sequence. Therefore, the question arises: from which senses does the grasping of particulars occur and from which does it not? The answer to this is presented in the current sutra. Grasping of particulars does not occur through the eyes and mind because both of these know their respective objects simply with appropriate proximity without association and focus.