________________
II. 2]
CHAPTER II
[ 65
either when it is looked at from a particular point of view or from a general point of view? The answer to this question is given in the present verse :
With whatever view-points a thing is looked at, the thing itself is the same. The only difference is this that when it is looked at from a general point of view, its particular aspect though existing all the time does not appear in bold relief at that time but remains unseen or concealed, behind the general feature. Similarly when a thing appears in its particular aspect, its general form is there all the while; only it does not intrude upon our notice but is hidden in the background. Take for instance, the soul. Even when it appears, in its pure general form, that is to say merely as a consciousness, it has got its particular aspects (such as Aupaśamika, Kṣāyika etc., and various other attributes) existing at that very time; only these particulars are not manifest at that particular time. On the other hand, at the time of looking at it from the standpoint of particular aspects the general characteristics of the soul such as consciousness etc., are there present-only they are not manifest at the time of looking at it from the standpoint of its particulars. In short, the particular aspect of a thing is dormant or subordinate at the time of the perception of a thing and the general character of a thing is dormant at the time of the knowledge of a thing. 2.
As a rule these two cognitions-perception and knowledge-do not occur or take place at one and the same time, but even this rule has
5
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
