Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 64

CHAPTER IV KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is the essence of soul. It is of two types : indeterminate cognition or apprehension (darśana) and determinate cognition or comprehension (jñana). In apprehension the details of the object are not known, while in comprehension the details are also cognised. Apprehension:
Before we know a thing in a detailed way, there is the stage where we simply see, hear or otherwise become conscious of it in a general way without going into its ins and outs. This is the first stage of knowledge. It is variously known as apprehension, indeterminate knowledge, indefinite cognition, indistinct awareness, detail-less knowledge and so on. It is of four kinds : visual apprehension (cakşurdarsana), non-visual apprehension (acakşurdarśana), apprehensive clairvoyance (avadhi-darśana) and apprehensive omniscience (kevala-darśana). The visual apprehension is concerned with the visual sense. The non-visual apprehension is related to the other four senses and mind. The apprehensive clairvoyance is nothing but limited spiritual apprehension without the assistance of the senses and mind. It is confined to material objects. The apprehensive omniscience is in the form of perfect spiritual apprehension. It is also known as natural apprehension (svabhāva-darśana). Comprehension :
Comprehension or determinate cognition is of five kinds: sensory comprehension (mati-jñāna), scriptural comprehension (śruta-jñāna), clairvoyance (avadhi-jñāna), telepathy (manahparyāya-jñāna) and omniscience (kevala-jñāna). Determinate knowledge of a thing by means of the senses and mind is