Dravyasamgraha

Author(s): Nemichandra Acharya, Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

Page 93

Dravyasamgraha
“The disciple studies, the preceptor helps him to study'. But there is nothing wrong in this. Even an auxiliary cause is spoken of as a causal agent. For instance, we say that the dried cowdung-fire causes the study of a disciple (in cold weather). Here the cowdung-fire is the auxiliary cause. Similarly time is a causal agent. How is it ascertained as time?
There are particular activities, namely instant etc., and cooking etc. accomplished by instants etc. These are referred to as an instant of time, cooking time and so on by convention. But, in this traditional usage of an instant of time and cooking time and so on, the name of time is superimposed. And this term 'time' signifies the existence of real time?, which is the basis of this conventional time. How?
1 Vartanā. Imperceptible changes take place incessantly every instant in
all substances on account of their own nature. But the external (auxiliary) cause in these minute changes is the substance of time, which is of the extent of space-points of the universe, pervading the entire universe. Each unit of time is distinct and occupies one unit of space. That is, the units of space do not combine and form molecules as do the atoms of matter. Nor do they constitute one single continuum as the medium of motion, the medium of rest or space. The gradual change that takes place in substances owing to the auxiliary cause (of real time) is called vartanā. The existence of real time is established by the minute changes that go on in substances. The rice is cooked over the fire in a short interval of time. But the rice has neither been cooked in one instant nor all at once. But every instant, gradual and imperceptible changes have been going on incessantly, with the result the great change (indicated by the larger size of the cooked rice) is perceptible at the end. If minute changes do not take place every instant, then there can be no great change either. Hence, it is established that minute changes have been taking place every instant during the cooking of the rice. And these minute changes take place because of the external cause of time. In this manner, minute changes take place in all substances because of the external cause of time. Time is without activity. Nevertheless time is the auxiliary cause of minute changes taking place in all substances.
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