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Studies on Biology in Tattvārtha-Stūra :
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5. Mind: Physical and Psychical
The 1-4 sensed beings (as well as some 5-sensed beings) are also said to have no mind. In fact, the term mind requires proper definition. It is said to be of two kinds - physical and psychical. The physical mind could be equated with the brain of living beings while the psychical mind could be the non-functional part of the brain, as it cannot work without physical mind. The biologists point out the existence of physical brain in the living beings with two or more senses. Lodha mentions that even plants show some brain functions." Thus, physical mind exists in almost all living beings. How, otherwise, they could go for desirable and not for undesirables. The psychical mind is associated with the physical one. They should have also to be presumed to possess this mind also in dormant or developed form. It is also said to be mattergic because of the Karmic destructioncum-subsidence in Rājavārtika 5.19. There are some functions of mind - thinking, memory, learning, desire for food etc. Quite a number of them are found in all the living beings if not wholly but partially. That is why, biologists have observed physical mind (Brain) in almost all living beings from 2-sensed onwards at least. The psychical mind should follow it. Thus, there is some point for reconsideration of mindedness of all the sensed beings. 6. Bodies of the Living Beings
Etymologically, a body is defined as that which is formed due to fruition of physique-making karma, which undergoes shattering. It is made up to infinite mattergic particles. It is the instrument of senses, activity and enjoyment. It could be material and it can also be living if it is an embodiment of the living. Every living being is, in fact, found embodied in the world. The fourteen aphorisms 2.36-49 describe the five types of bodies and their characteristics in which embodiments are observed. These move from gross form to fine form, eyeperceptible to invisible forms. Table 6 gives their details. These embodiments are produced by uterine or non-uterine process.
The biologists also agree with different bodies of the living beings depending on their class. However, they have described the various systems and organization under the observable body surface, (i.e. skin etc.). It seems that T.S. term of body is a generic term covering all the current scientific descriptions, of course, which are not found there.
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