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60
Tattvarthsutra
[2. 23-25]
The knowledge characterized by specific forms is known as mati-jnana (intellectual knowledge). The subsequent thought process characterized by attributes is known as shrut-jnana (aural knowledge), meaning that in the flow of knowledge generated by the mind, the primary small portion is mati-jnana, and the larger portion that follows is shrut-jnana. In essence, perception and the other four senses generate only mati-jnana, while both mati and shrut arise from the mind. Among these, shrut holds precedence over mati. For this reason, shrut is referred to as the subject of the mind here.
Question: What is the reason for calling the mind non-sensory?
Answer: Although it is also an instrument of knowledge and thus a sense, it relies on the help of the eyes and other senses to engage with subjects such as form, etc. Because of this dependency, it is termed non-sensory or no-indriya (similar to but not a sensory),
Question: Does the mind reside in a specific part of the body like the eyes, or does it exist everywhere?
Answer: It resides everywhere within the body and not in any specific location; for the movement of the mind is evident in all subjects perceived by the different senses located in various parts of the body, making it impossible to consider it non-embodied. Hence, it is said: "Wherever the air is, there the mind is."
23: There is one sense among the beings of the wind-based body.
24: In creatures such as worms, ants, bees, and humans, there is one additional sense each.
25: Those with consciousness are called sapient.
In sutras 13 and 14, the classifications of worldly beings into two categories: immobile (sthavara) and mobile (trasa) are explained. They have nine types (species), such as earth-bodied (prithvikaya), water-bodied (jalakaya), and plant (vanaspati).
1. This view is from the Shvetambara tradition. According to the Digambar tradition, the location of the substance of the mind is not the whole body, but only the heart.