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Para-psychology and Jainism
ring Karmas. Avadhi transcends the barriers of time and space in proportion to the difference of destruction-cum-subsidence of Karmic veils. The highest type of Clairvoyance will cognise all objects having form irrespective of past, present and future or near and far and the lowest type can perceive any object having very small fraction (Angula) and can penetrate only a small part of time (Avalika) and only a part (Atom) of all the modes. When a person has partially destroyed the influences of Karmas, he acquires the power of direct knowledge of thing (having forms) but are too distant or minute or obscure to be observed by the ordinary senses and mind. Clairvoyance differs in degrees according to four categories of space, time, matter and modes. Here the Jainas conceive of a Doctrine of Gradation according to which Clairvoyant perception differs in degrees. For example, in point of space, the Clairvoyant perception extends from infinitesimal part of space (Angula = the smallest fraction of space) to the inhabited Universe (Loka = the biggest fraction of space). Similarly from the point of view of time, it extends from avalikā (the smallest fraction of time less than a second) to the countless number of cycles of time including past and future. The infinitesimal indivisible ultimate unit of time is called time-point (Samaya) and that of space is called space-point (Pradeśas). They are beyond ordinary human comprehension and hence can be perceived only by the Omniscient. The indivisible unit of matter is atom and the indivisible unit of mode is one mode of an infinite number with regard to Time, Space, Matter and Modes--the Jainas work out a theory of Relative subtilty of Time, Space, Matter and Modes3-Timepoint being the most extensive and Modes being the least extensive. Knowledge of all the modes is beyond ordinary knowlege which is possible only to an Omniscient.
1. Jina Das: lbid.
2. Mahendra Kumar: Jaina Darśana, Varni Jaina Granthamala, Banaras, 1955.
3. Bhadrabahu : lbid.
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