Jaina Culture

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

Page 67

JAINA CULTURE
Extra-sensory Perception :
Sensory comprehension and scriptural comprehension are of the class of normal cognition, i. e., sensory perception. Clairvoyance, telepathy and omniscience fall in the category of super-normal .cognition, i. e., extra-sensory perception. The self possesses the inherent capacity to know all things irrespective of time and space. Temporal and spatial distances are immaterial if the self were in all perfection. In other words, the self is inherently capable of cognising all things together with all their characters irrespective of temporal distinctions and spatial differences. It is only because of karmic veils that this capacity of the self is obstructed. Omniscience occurs on the complete destruction of the corresponding karmic obstructions. But, when there is variation in degrees of this destruction there occur different varieties of cognition. Of them, sensory knowledge and scriptural knowledge are produced through the senses and mind, whereas clairvoyance and telepathy are derived directly from the self. Clairvoyance :
Clairvoyance is confined to the objects having form. Only those things which have shape, colour etc. can be cognised by clairvoyance. It differs in scope and durability with different persons owing to the difference of karmic strength. The highest type of clairvoyance can cognise all the things possessing form. The formless things like souls etc. cannot be cognised by clairvoyance. Celestial and infernal beings possess this kind of knowledge by birth. It is acquired by human and animal beings. In their case it is of six kinds : (1) that which continues to exist even if the possessor leaves a particular place and goes elsewhere (accompanying), (2) that which does not continue to exist in the aforesaid situation (unaccompanying), (3) that which extends in scope and durability as time passes (increasing), (4) that which embraces deterioration with regard to its scope and