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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
omniscience acquired due to complete destruction of knowledge-obscuring karma. They sermonise all the scriptural contents. Thus, the sense of taste is more beneficial. A. This is not correct. This is a topic related with the senses. Thus, the above statement indicates about the sense-based sermons. It does not refer to the case of omniscients. 11. The order of the senses in the aphorism 2.19 is intended to indicate that the senses increase one by one in order. This could be learnt from the aphorism 2.23 later which indicates that the class of worms, ants, bees and human beings have gradually increasing senses from two to five.
The polyviewistic concept should be applied in case of these senses with respect to their difference and non-difference from the soul and among themselves. They are non-different with respect to the energy of destructioncum-subsidence of knowledge-obscuring karma. They are also one with respect to the group as the constituents are non-different from the constitute.
Further, all the senses are different as each one of them has a prescribed energy of destruction-cum-subsidence. Their sense organs also make them different from each other.
Similarly, there is non-difference between the senses with respect to general intelligence and general nomenclature. However, they are different with respect to specific intelligence and specific nomenclature. The senses are nondifferent from the sensor soul as the soul transforms itself in the form of senses like the hot iron ball without depriving its consciousness. Secondly, the senses are observed not to be found separately from the soul. Had it been so, the soul will be without senses like an earthen pot. These senses are different also from the sensor soul as the soul stays behind even after loosing any sense. The soul is
oded and the senses are the modes. Thus, there is difference between the two in this respect too. Similarly, there is differnece between the two with respect to their names, number and functions. Many other alternatives could also be added here as detailed earlier. Supplementary Notes 1. The commentary deals with the following points : (a) The five senses mentioned in aphorism 2.15 have been named in 2.19. They could be instrumental because of their dependence on the self-soul. They could be nominative also because of their independence in the usage like, 'my ears listen well' etc. (b) The senses function due to the destruction-cum-subsidence of energyobstructing karma along with many other karmas as mentioned in the text. (c) There could be no additional term indicating touch etc. as senses as it is supplied from 2.15. (d) The order of the senses in 2.19 has been justified on account of their characters of (i) pervasivity and large size (ii-iv) gradually decreasing size and
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