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Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics
(i.e. dying away as soon as it arises), a number of these experiences may be causally so connected, as to form one connected whole. Plainly, the question crops up: How do the individual and momentary units of consciousness form a series?
FOUR GENERATING CAUSES ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHISTS
It is to be admitted that a number of disparate things or phenomena can form a group and a connected whole, only when there can be traced a sort of continuity in them. One conscious experience can be causally connected with its successor when there is similarity and no barrier between them. It is interesting to note that the Buddhists in their analysis of a particular conscious experience did not lose sight of this fact of continuity. They point out that there are four causes in the matter of the genesis of a conscious experience.
'चतुर्विधान् हेतून् प्रतीत्य चित्तचत्ता उत्पद्यन्ते ।'
First of all, we have the Adhi-pati Pratyaya i.e. the instrumentality of the sense-organs etc. Secondly, there is the Sahakari Pratyaya i.e. assistance from the attendant causes like light etc. Next, we have the Alambana Pratyaya or the object itself (e.g. a pitcher) of experience. Lastly, and in this we are interested at present, there is the "Samanantara Pratyaya". This has been explained by Dharmot
tara as,
'समश्चासौ ज्ञानत्वेनानन्तरश्चासावव्यवहितत्वेन सचासौ प्रत्ययश्च ।'
SAMANANTARA PRATYAYA
In other words, it is an apprehension which has similarity with the conscious experience immediately preceding it. Thus although an unit of experience dies as soon as it arises and is really unconnected with the experience that follows it, it may be arranged or grouped with its immediate successor in a series and this is possible because the two experiences inspite of their disparity are similar and there intervenes nothing between them to break their continuity.
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