Comparative Study of Indian Science

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: C S Mallinath

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(Dravyendria), the sense-faculty (Bhavendriya) is drawn towards it (Labdhi) and attention (Upayoga) is bestowed on it. Perception is a psychical process and results only when its (material) object is thus fully distilled and purged of its grossly material nature.
It is thus that the Jainas escape the difficulties of the Contact theory of Perception difficulties arising from a materialistic account of the senses. It remains only to be said that according to them the Senses excepting the Eye are Prapyakari i.e., generate perception by actually coming in contact with the objects. This view is opposed firstly to the doctrine of the orthodox thinkers according to whom all the senses are Prapyakari and secondly to that of the Buddhists who contend that not only the Eye but the Ear also is not Prapyakari.
The next class of Ordinary Perception is Anindriyanibandhana....the Internal or Mental Perception. These consist in purely subjective feelings of pleasure, pain etc. They are independent of the outside objects and of the activity of the sense-organs and are due solely to the mind, the internal organ.
As for the nature of Mind, it is well known that in Europe, Mind is ordinarily identified with the Soul or where a distinction is sought to be made between them, it is taken to stand for the sumtotal of conscious stales.