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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
the soul as the principle of consciousness and inseparable from it. In fact, for them the soul and consciousness are the same. It has two majour functionsknowledge and conation along with many others. It seems to be a mystery where delving deeper may not be possible except subjectivity. That is why, there are little details in scriptures except its logical issues which the psychologists have elaborated in current age. 15. Currently, consciousness is compared to the human bio-computer whose potential is shaped and limited by its physiological, cultural, experiencial and educational etc. components. Though it has been taken to be a field of 'non-science', but it involves experimental methodology of equivalent credibility. That is why, it engulfs scientificity. Charles Tart has pointed out many discrete states of consciousness during waking, sleeping, dreaming, hypnosis, intoxication, addiction and meditation states each representing a specific configuration of psychological structures. Now, there is 'selfconsciousness', 'empirical consciousness' and 'transcendental consciousness'. 15. Biologically, the term 'living' always means as embodied entity as the scientists have nothing to say about the dis-embodied soul. The biological living is described in terms of its normally visible characteristics. Many of them are discussed in this text and commentary. However, the characteristics of conational and knowledgal manifestation indicated in this aphorism are included in the term 'sensation' or 'irritability' by the scientists. They represent the psychic characteristics rather than physical characteristics. Though this text has not specifically mentioned the physical characteristics, but other texts have given them in terms of different attributes. They will be indicated in due course.
The next aphorism is intended to describe the different forms of consciousness:
2.9
Sa Dvividho-asta-caturbhedah
The consciousness has two-varieties- (i) knowledge and (ii) conation. The knowledge has eight varieties and the conation has four varieties (detailed later). 1.Q. What are the two varieties of consciousness? A. The two varities are- (i) determinate or detailed and (ii) indeterminate or non-detailed. The determinate consciousness is known as knowledge. The indeterminate consciousness is known as conation. 2. Though the conation occurs first in the process of cognition, the knowledge has been placed first in 2.9 because it is more respectable due to its ascertaining nature about objects. In contrast, the conation is only apprehensive. 3. Q. How does one learn that the knowledge has been mentioned first? A. It is learnt from the specific numeration in the aphorism 2.9 in the form of eight and four in succeession.
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