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Properties of Matter in Jaina Canons :
(169)
has pointed out two ways of sensory perception-Pramāņas (Organs of knowledge) and Nayas (Standpoints). The naya method consists of studying an object with respect to a particular aspect, mode or state. As a substance has many aspects, there may be many nayas to study it. Pramāņa is a way of all-inclusive study of the object. Thus, it will synthesize all the analytical studies by naya method. Realistically, it is not possible to do so in normal state, hence naya method is the chief source for obtaining knowledge for the human beings. Actually, the naya method follows the same methods as used in pramāņa studies. It has been pointed out that the knowledge about an object can be ascertained through six categories: description, ownership, cause, substratum, duration and classification. There are other ways of expressing these categories without much difference from these six. All these means employ both the above methods of studies.
Whatever the method employed, it has two aspects: the study may be intuitional or sensory. The technical words used for these are Pratyaksa (Direct) and Parokșa (Indirect) respectively. These words have different meanings to Jaina philosophy in contrast to other philosophies like Vaiseșika leading to some confusion in understanding by others. Akalanka removed this discrepancy by classifying the intuitional method in two forms - one by pure intuition and other by sensory perception. The latter he called sensory intuition caused by senses and mind. It was regarded up to a stage it was not expressed through words. What other systems presume as Pratyakşa, Jainas call it as Parokșa and Laukika Pratyaksa (Empirical direct perception). This includes sensory cognition, resemblance, recognition, induction and deduction and recording for onward transmission for advancement of knowledge. The aforesaid six categories for obtaining knowledge are, thus, rendered possible, by these methods. On close examination of these methods, one finds that sensory perception is the one without which others may not be possible. The importance of sensory perception, therefore, is thus self evident for knowledge. It will, thus, be interesting to see how this cognition is obtained and what are the steps involved in it? It has also been pointed out that besides, senses and mind, external causes like
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