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or pot into potsherds and these turn into dust. So it should really be said that just like a lamp the soul does not absolutely perish; it only assumes another form. The lamp is not seen as lamp (fire) when it is extinguished because its modifications become subtler and subtler and are ultimately not seen even when they do exist, though the modification as darkness is certainly perceptible. We may take a few instances to illustrate this dark clouds when scattered are not seen though they exist because they have assumed a subtle form; eye-ointment too when it is blown of by the wind is not visible as it is in the form of very subtle particles. Similarly the lamp also after extinction is not visible not because it does not exist, but because it has undergone transformation and become subtle (1987-8).
It is the very nature of pudgala (matter) to undergo various modifications. Gold-leaf, salt, dry ginger, haritaki (myrabolan), citraka (castor-seed), molasses-these compounds (skandhas) are in the beginning perceptible by such sense-organs as those of sight, etc. but coming into contact with other collocations of substance, place and time become cognisable by other organs such as those of touch, smell, etc. or even become incognisable. For example, if gold-leaf is made, its gold is perceptible by the eyes; but if in order to purify it, it is thrown into fire and gets mixed up with ashes, it can no longer be perceived by the but it eyes, can be felt by touch; if it is separated from the ashes, it can again be perceived by the eyes. Salt etc. also are perceptible by the organ of sight; but if they are mixed with other medicines to form decoction, powder, electuary, etc. they can only be known by the sense-organ of taste. Musk, camphor and such substances are perceptible by the eyes, but if they are blown off elsewhere by the wind, they can be perceived only by the organ of smell; and if the distance is very great they may not be perceived by any sense-organ; the organ of smell can detect them if they are at the most nine yojanas (i. e. 36 kośas or 81 miles) away. Similarly, every thing must be known to undergo diverse kinds of modifications; and we should not feel surprised if the lamp is not perceived after its nirvana (1989).
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