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Bhagwan Mahavir ]
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"Manduka replied, " We can know Dharmastikaya by the function which it serves for us. Just as smoke is the token of fire and where there is smoke there must be fire whether we see it or not, in the same way the function of Dharamstikaya proves the existence of Dharmastikaya. The ignorant people of this world know an invisible thing from its action. If its effect is not before us, we cannot know it at all.” The hermits laughed to hear this and said, "O, Manduka, in spite of your being a Shravaka, you are quite ignorant in this respect.” Manduka returned, “I have already said that we can know Dharmastikaya from its action; otherwise it is very difficult for people of imperfect knowledge to know it." He further said, "Do you admit the existence of air or not p" The hermits replied, 'Oh, yes, air exists and we admit it.” Manduka said, “Well, have you ever seen air p" Hermits-- "No, it is not a thing to be seen. None can ever see it." Manduka--"When you cannot see air, how do you say that
it exists." Hermits---"Although we cannot see air, still we can see its
action." We know that the leaves of trees move, smoke does not go straight in the sky, and when we let fall a handful of dust it does not fall straight on the ground; this is all due to the presence of air. Air lifts many light objects such as leaves etc. and carries them from one place to another. Fire cannot burn without air. It is air which makes water light and sweet. The first thing that every living being does in his life is to inhale air and the last thing is to exhale it. Air turns water into vapour, carries it to the trees and thus preserves their lives. Again, it is air which makes one cloud
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