Jainism

Author(s): Herbert Warren
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 37

JAINISM
The mind itself does not come in contact with physical objects. The next stage in the process is a consciousness of similarities and differences (iha); a sort of cogitation which goes on in the mind. This stage is followed by reaching a conclusion as to what the object is, or is not (avaya). Then the final stage in the process is that the thing can be remembered (dharana); or that the knowledge gained continues; also the life may be changed in consequence of the new knowledge.
These are the stages passed through in acquiring knowledge by the senses (matijnana). And any energy in us, which prevents the operation of any part of the process would be an energy of the first class, or knowledge obscuring.
When these unnatural activities are stopped, then the inherent qualities of the soul become active and actual. Memory, judgment, perception, etc., are the results of the stopping of these unnatural knowledge-obscuring energies. The constitution of man is such that as soon as he removes moral vices, his intellective processes flow into a pure channel.*
CLASS II. (DARSHANAVARANIYA)
of energies which render the soul impure.
In speaking of knowledge, it was understood to be detailed knowledge. 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. We simply know it as belong
* Asiatic Quarterly Review, page 143, July 1900.