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BOOK II: THE PRINCIPLE OF KNOWLEDGE
323
Now he informs us what psychic-attention is cause of conjunction with other substances:
II.64. If the psychic-attention is auspicious or good, it leads to accumulation or increase of the soul's virtue or merit (punya); if inauspicious or evil, its sinfulness (papa) likewise is accumulated or increases. In the absence of both there is no accession or accumulation [of karmas]. (156)
Psychic-attention, when impure, is cause of the soul's conjunction with other substance. As effected by attachment in the form of sanity (i.e. purifying effect, vishuddhi) or morbidity (affliction, distress, sanklesh), it receives a double aspect, as good or evil, and is active as cause of conjunction with other substance, which receives a double aspect, as merit and sin. But, when non-existence of this impure in both forms is effected, then only pure psychic-attention remains: and this, on the other hand, is no cause of conjunction with other substance.
Now he delineates the characteristic form of good psychic
attention:
II.65. Whoso knows the great Jina, respects the Liberated Souls and also the Homeless Ones [saints]89 and is compassionate to the living beings, his psychic-attention is good. (157)
Good psychic-attention, which,-as it consists in a recurrence of vision-infatuating and conduct-infatuating matter reposing in the special condition of destruction and subsidence20-embraces an attachment of a good kind, is engaged in entertaining faith in the Arhats, those Supreme Lords, Super-Devas of Great Devas, Supreme Gods, and the Siddhas and sadhus, and in practising compassion towards the totality of living beings.
Now he delineates the characteristic form of evil psychic-attention:
II.66. He whose psychic-attention is sunk in passion for senseobjects, addicted to hearing words that defile and pollute the mind, bad thoughts, bad companionship, [and] is violent and inclined to perverse ways, is evil. (158)
Evil psychic-attention,—since, as it consists in a recurrence of vision-infatuating and conduct-infatuating matter reposing in the specialized condition called udaya [arising of karman], it embraces an attachment of an improper kind,-is engaged in entertaining faith in perverse ways, other than the Arhats, those Supreme Lords, Super
