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The Jaina world of Non-living
assuming them as expressing the meanings themselves directly? In that case, Sphotism will becomes automatically unnecessary.
The expression of Sphota' cannot be compared with the illumination by lamp as the absolute momentariness of the lamp cannot be proved. The lamp is not extinct after self- illumination as it illuminates objects like pots etc., causing effects at distant places.
The expression of 'Sphota' by sounds can also not be compared with actions which are momentary and express generality of 'action-ness' by the Mīmānsakas. The Jainas do not approve their nature of actions as they do not accept the generality as a separate real incorporating reality (Dravya), quality and action categories. The 'action' is taken as nondifferent from matter category and it exists not momentarily but substantively.
Moreover, the sounds cannot express 'Sphota' as the nature of expressive and expressible is dis-similar. The visible and actionful lamp illuminates the pots etc. which have similar nature of tangibility and activity. The case of sound and Sphota is not so. While the sound is corporeal and active, the Sphota is reverse in nature. It, therefore, cannot be expressed by sounds.
It may further be asked whether the 'Sphota' is different from sound. If it is different, it cannot be received by the ear. If it is nondifferent, there will be sameness or identity between the two. Thus, there will be no expressibility of Sphota by sound because of identical nature.
Again, if Sphota is expressible, it would be non-eternal like pots etc. This logic is not fallacious due to the fact that space is expressible through knowledge despite it being eternal. Our logic will specify expressiblity by corporeality. Moreover, it is also an effect like an earthen pot. But 'Sphota' is not seen as an effect because it is eternal. Hence, it could not be expressible.
The Sphota could also not be said to be expressible like intellect etc. (categories of Sānkhyas) as it would mean probandual parity. As one has to prove the expressiblity of 'Sphota', similar is the case with these categories.
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