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1. Types of Knowledge and Their Masters
27. Types of Knowledge and Their Masters
There are two kinds of knowledge. 21. Among them, the knowledge that arises from the concept of future birth pertains to the Narakas and Devas. 22. The knowledge that is generated due to the mentioned causes is of six kinds and pertains to Tiryanchas and humans. 23. Knowledge is of two types. Among these two, the future birth knowledge pertains to Narakas and Devas. The other, which is generated by the destruction and pacification of karmas, is of six types, and it pertains to Tiryanchas and humans.
The two distinctions of knowledge are future birth knowledge and attribute knowledge. The knowledge that manifests immediately upon birth is called future birth knowledge. This birth-acquired knowledge does not require rituals, rules, etc., for its manifestation. The knowledge that is not birth-acquired but is revealed after birth through rituals, rules, and other qualities is called attribute knowledge or knowledge generated through the pacification of karmas.
Question - Does future birth knowledge arise without the pacification of karmas? Answer - No, pacification is also required for it.
Question - Then, is not future birth knowledge also generated through the pacification of karmas? What is the difference between future birth knowledge and attribute knowledge?
Answer - No knowledge can occur without the qualified pacification of karmas. The pacification of the knowledge-obscuring karmas is a common cause of just knowledge. Pacification is a common cause for all, yet some knowledge is said to be future birth knowledge, while others are described as knowledge generated through pacification due to the distinction in the logic of the emergence of pacification. There are some categories of beings who, upon birth, immediately attain qualified pacification and thereby knowledge, meaning they do not need to perform ascetic practices or rituals for the qualified pacification of knowledge in their lives. All such beings undoubtedly have some form of birth-acquired knowledge that remains throughout their lives. In contrast, there are also some categories that do not have the rule of attaining knowledge at birth. They need to perform ascetic practices and rituals for the qualified pacification of knowledge. Among all such beings, knowledge is not possible; it is only possible for those who have developed the necessary qualities for that knowledge. Thus, although the intrinsic cause of pacification may be the same, in some categories it is attributed solely to birth, while in others it is attributed to qualities acquired through ascetic practices.