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Reality and Matter : Definition, Properties and Classification : 177
associated with energies. The details of these modifications are given in post-canonical literature. The modifications due to energies will be described in Physics section and the material modifications are summarised here. As already pointed out, about a total of 14-16 manifestations are described in canons.
The fineness and grossness represent the size and quantity of matter. Each of the two has two varieties - absolute (in atom ) and relative (in universe ). These represent the lower and upper limit of length and number. Shapes and motions have already been described.
Dissociation or division (bheda ) may have six varieties – (i) sawing ( wood ), grinding ( wheat ), breaking (into pieces), threshing, layering and hammering. All these represent only the physical processes involved. They also give us an indirect idea of different types of mechanical strength in matter. Chemical or electrical methods of division or dissociation are not mentioned in canons,
Association or bond or union has been classified in different ways. It may be classified as partial or total. The partial bonding may be equated to physical bonding, temporary and unquantitative. The total bonding may be equivalent to current chemical bond. Both these bonds may be natural or experimentally/externally caused. They may be due to mixed causes too. The natural has two varieties - with beginning ( rainbow, lighting, meteoric phenomena etc. ) and without beginning (bond between non-material realities ). The first one has both the varieties of current bonds-physical ( rainbow) and chemical (lightning ). The second one has no equivalent term in current science. Akalanka86 mentions its nine classes.
The experimental/external union has also two varieties - union between non-living materials and union between nonliving and living entities ( which may be kārmic and quasi kārmic ). The material bond consists of five varieties and seems to be mostly physical. The classification of bonding has been summarised in Table 16.
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