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86
Jaina View of Life is that the problem is scientific, not philosophical, or, rather no longer philosophical'.$!
The contact of the sense organs with the object is a condition of perception as mentioned by the Naiyāyikasea, although, according to the Jainas, such a contact is not necessary in the case of visual experience. Hemacandra said that objects and light are not conditions of experience, because of lack of concomitance between the two68 But it is not denied that they are remote conditions, like time and space, which subserve the subsidence and destruction of the knowledge obscuring Karmas. They are indirectly useful to the visual organs, like collyrium. Perception of a particular object is, in fact, according to the Jainas, due to the destruction and subsidence of the relevant knowledge-obscuring Karmas, Jnānāvaraniya Karma. This implies a psychological factor. An appropriate physical condition in the destruction and subsidence of knowledge-obscuring Karma is a necessary factor in the perceptual experience. It also depends on the competency of the appropriate psychical factor. The psychic factor of selective attention is needed before we get the sense experience. This is possible when all psychic impediments are partially or wholly removed through the destruction and subsidence of knowledge— obscuring Karma64. Such a psychic factor may be described as a mental set which is necessary for the perceptual experience. Emphasis on the mental factor in perception has been mentioned in the Upanişads also. In Western thought Aristotle was clearly aware that perception is not possible merely through the sense organs66 For him, perception consists in being moved and affected. Sense perception does not arise from the senses themselves, as organs of sense perception are potentially and
61. What is Mind? Article by B. Russell in the Journal of Philosophy,
Vol. LV. No. 1. 62. Nyāya Sūtra, III. I. 68-69. indriyârtha-samnikarşam. 63. Pramānamimāṁsā, I, 25 närthālokau jñānas ya nimittam avyatirekat. 64. Ibid. and commentary. 65. Aristotle's Psychology,
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