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112
Letter 17
There can not be total absence of this knowledge. Even microscopic beings with single sensory organ have some small degree of this Mati and Shrut Dnyan in them.
No Jeev can ever be totally devoid of knowledge. The expression of knowledge in its any modification varies, it can be more, it can be less also. We will now see the nature of five modifications of knowledge without differentiating them as Mithya i.e. wrong or Samyak i.e. right.
(1) Mati Dnyan :- To know the things in the world with the help of sensory organs and mind as instrumental cause i.e. Nimitta (Fafani) is known as Mati Dnyan. This is the knowledge of other things i.e. things other than one's own self. This is also known as sensory knowledge. But when Jeev knows his own self or Atma, at that time he diverts his attention from the sensory organs and mind, and by concentrating inwards, directs his attention towards himself. Then at that time the knowledge he attains of his own self is also called Mati Dnyan.
(2) Shrut Dnyan :- The knowledge about the other substances or things, related to the substance known through Mati Dnyan is known as Shrut Dnyan e.g. if you hear or read the word sugar it is Mati Dnyan. But when you know the substance known as sugar, through that word then it is Shrut Dnyan.
I can imagine the question arising in your mind. How a living being who has only one or two sensory organs can have Shrut Dnyan? The beings who have single organ of touch, their knowledge of touch is Mati Dnyan, but to know that this touch is pleasant or painful is Shrut Dnyan.
A self experience of pure soul i.e. Shuddha-atmanubhooti ( शुद्धात्मानुभूति) is a pure knowledge of the self through direct experience of its nature. This is also a Shrut Dnyan and it is known as Bhava Shrut Dnyan 10 AŞIR.
The scriptures or Jinavani which gives the description about the nature of Atma, its characteristics, the various discussions about the Atma as well as ways to attain Atmanubhooti etc. is called Dravyashrut द्रव्यश्रुत.
From this you would realise that Dravyashrut sapien or Divyadhvani ferater is a composition of words or sound. It is not a modification of Dnyan attribute. So now, if somebody tells you that there is no Dnyan or knowledge in the scriptures, it won't be shocking and surprising to you. Because now you will understand the view point from which the speaker is saying it.
(3) Avadhi Dnyan :- A living being who has the extra sensory knowledge of Roopi substances and their attributes and their various modifications, though they are not present in front of him and this
