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The pudgals
63
tioned above. In other words, the actual atom is absolute and indivisible. Therefore, the present day atom should be considered to be the Vyavaharik atom or the practical atom. The electrons and neutrons that result from the breaking of the atoms are also Vyavaharik atoms or practical atoms. Actually, the atoms are invisible to the physical eye. Therefore, probably it is proper to describe the present day atoms as Skandas.
* AAT VARGANAS (The eight combinations) :
The Skanda dal or the material made up of infinite Vyavaharik paramanus are useful to the jiva. There are eight Skandas of this kind. (1) AUDARIK VARGANA (This is gross matter). (2) VAIKRIYA VARGANA (The aggregates of matter). (3) AHARAK VARGANA (The aggregate of matter which
can form the body by means of yog-shakti, supernatural
power).. .... (4) THAIJAS VARGANA (The aggregate of matter formed
out of energy). BHASHA VARGANA (The aggregate of matter helping
speech). (6) SHWASOCHWASA VARGANA (The aggregate of matter
helping respiration). (7) MANAS VARGANA (The-aggregate of matter forming the
mind). . (8) KARMANA VARGANA (The aggregate of matter formed
out of minute particles causing the formation of Karmas).
These Skandhas are called Varganas or combinations. Later, these varganas exert influence on more and more atoms; and like a bundle of wool spun into yarn, by a machine, they become more and more subtle in form. For instance, compared to the audarik skandha, the Vaikriya is subtle; and compared to Vaikriya, the aharak is subtler. Thus the last one, namely, the Karman Skandha is the subtlest of all. The reason for this is in the nature of the pudgals that make up that skandha.
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