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Chapter # 5: How to know a substance.
Chapter # 5.1 To identify a substance.
558.
How many different ways can a substance be identified?
There are four different ways to identify a given substance:
1. Through it's Characteristics (Lakshan). 2. Through its organ of knowledge (Praman). 3. Through a Partial point of view (Naya) of the substance. 4. and by an analysis of truth (Nikshepa).
Chapter # 5.2 Characteristic of a substance.
559. What is meant by the characteristics (Lakshan)?
The one specific thing, which will identify a given substance out of many substances, is called a characteristic of that substance. For example, the consciousness is the characteristic of the living being.
560.
How many types of characteristics are there?
There are two types, as follow:
1. Those related to the substance (Atmabhut) 2. Those nonrelated to the substance (Anatmabhut).
561. What is called the characteristic related to the substance (Atmabhut lakshan)?
The characteristics, which are the integral part of the substance, are called the related characteristics of the substance, i.e. fire's characteristic is heat.
562.
What is a nonrelated characteristic of a substance (Anatmabhut lakshan)?
A characteristic that is not an integral part of the substance is called a nonrelated characteristic of the substance. For example, a staff is a staff bearer's characteristic but it is not an integral, related characteristic of the bearer per se.
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