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1. [18-19]
Who does not know the distinctions of perception? The eye perceives distant trees, mountains, etc., and the mind contemplates objects that are very far away. For this reason, the eye and the mind are considered as acquiring knowledge from the inapprehensible, and the stream of knowledge arising from them is termed as "patukramik." The four senses – ear, tongue, nose, and touch – are the causes of the "mandakramik" stream of knowledge because these four senses can only perceive objects that are apprehensible through their connection with those objects. Until sounds are heard by the ear, sugar touches the tongue, the pollen of flowers enters the nose, and water touches the body, one cannot hear sounds, taste sugar, smell flowers, or feel the temperature of water.
Question: How many types of matijnana (cognitive knowledge) are there? Answer: There are a total of 336 types of matijnana. Question: How is that so?
Answer: The five senses and the mind contribute to a total of 24 types based on the four senses of meaning and perception, and by adding four signifying perceptions from the four apprehensible senses, it becomes 28. Multiplying all these by the twelve various types – many, few, manifold, and few kinds – results in 336. This enumeration of types is from a gross perspective. In reality, the clarity and obscurity of illumination, the diversity of subjects, and variations based on destruction and non-destruction make them countless.
Question: The twelve types mentioned, such as many and few, apply only to specific subjects, while the matter of meaning perception is merely generic. How can they occur in meaning perception?
Answer: There are two types of meaning perception: practical (vyavaharika) and ultimate (naishchayika). The twelve types, such as many and few, mostly pertain to practical meaning perception, not to ultimate perception. In ultimate meaning perception, only the generic is manifested, devoid of species, qualities, or actions, hence the reception of specifics like many and few is not possible therein.
Question: What is the difference between practical and ultimate?
Answer: The meaning perception that initially encompasses the generic is ultimate, while that which, after each specific perception, continues to inquire about and perceive other specifics, is practical meaning perception. Meaning perception that does not lead to further inquiry of other specifics is not considered practical. All other perceptions that generate inquiries about new specifics are practical meaning perceptions.