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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
Supplementary Notes (2.16-18)
1.
The commentary deals with the following points:
(a) There are two types of each of the cognitive senses- physcial and psychical ones.
(b) The physical senses have two varieties each- external structural form and supporting form.
(c)
Each type of physical sense has two varieties- internal shape and size of the physical sense formed due to specific mattergic accumulation on account of realisation of physique-making karma. The internal structural form is the pure soul spacepoints which are the material cause for the external form of the
senses.
The external supoorting form of the senses is the protective agency of the senses while the internal supporting form is that part which is supported by exernal agencies. These have been illustrated in the text.
(d) The psychical senses have also two varieties each- (i) capacitative attainment and (ii) functional attainment or consciousness. The first is due to the destruction-cum-subsidence of knowledge-obscuring karma leading the soul towards formation of physical senses. The second is the specific transformational volition of soul for acquiring the attainment.
(e) It is not correct that the functional attainment cannot be called the sense as it is sense-effect because many-a-times the characteristics of the cause are followed by the effects. Many popular examples may be cited. Secondly, the meaning of the term 'Indriya' best fits the definition of functional attainment.
2.
Most of the concepts of the Jainas have been generally shown to have a dual character-physical and psychical. Thus, one finds the living being, karmas, violence, libido etc. postulated in these two forms. These forms are mutually dependent on and co-operative with each other. However, the psychical form is the finer one assuming the form of inner or inherent energy capable of materialising in physical form. The senses are no exception to this general concept.
The physical senses are those which have assumed an internal and external shape by ordely accumulation of soul spacepoints or mattergic mass due to the realisation of specific physique-making karma and soul-maturing subspecies of class together with the destruction-cum-subidence of corresponding sense-obscuring karma. In contrast, the psychical senses represent the qualitative purity due to the (conscious) energy to receive and know objects on account of the corresponding karmic destruction-cumsubsidence.
It is pointed out by Shastri that there is formation of physical sense first which is followed by the conscious psychical sense. However, it must be known that formation of attainmental psychical sense and physical sense starts as soon as the body or birth process commences.
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