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SUPERNORMAL PERCEPTION
accident occurred exactly as it was predicted. Tyrrell cites many such instances. Dr. Osley says that, if we are to take the language of the permanently metagnomic subjects literally, one might think...... that they perceive realities as if by a paranormal optical sense outside time and space. They grasp from an ultra-material plane and see things as they would occur.34 There seems to be one major difference between the description of perception given by Dr. Osley and the nature of avadhi. We have seen that avadhi does not make use of the sense organs and the mind. But Osley describes the phenomenon as perception of realities 'as if by a paranormal optical sense outside space and time.' This is not very clear. However, the optical sense outside time and space need not refer to the functions of the physical sense organs. Moreover, Dr. Osley says that the perception is as if by a paranormal optical sense. C. D. Broad admits that clairvoyance is non-sensuous perception. He interprets an experiment with red cards in the following terms: "We shall have to suppose that the clairvoyant has, from infancy, been continuously though unconsciously apprehending directly all those objects which he has also been cognizing indirectly through sight and touch. Then we can suppose that an association would be set up between, e.g. the conscious experience of seeing an object as red and the unconscious experience of directly apprehending it as having that intrinsic characteristic which makes it selectively reflect red-stimulating light-waves. Suppose that, on some future occasion, such an object, though no longer visible, is still being directly but unconsciously apprehended by the clairvoyant. He will still apprehend it as having that intrinsic characteristic, whatever it may be, which has now become associated in his mind with the visual appearance of redness. Consequently, the idea of it as a red-looking object will arise automatically in his mind, and he will announce that the unseen object is red".35 Whatever may be the explanation of clairvoyant cognition, it cannot be denied that such experiences are facts. Eminent philosophers like Sidgwick, Price and Broad have admitted the existence of such clairvoyant experiences.
Manaḥparyaya
Now we come to the next form of supernormal perception, called by the Jainas manaḥparyaya.36 The Jaina concept of manaḥparyāya is based on their doctrine of mind. We have seen that mind, according to Jainas, is a particular material substance composed of a specific form of vargaṇās, or group of atoms. It is composed of an infinite number of atoms called mano vargaņās. There are fine atoms. The finer atoms form
34 Tyrrell (G. N. M.): The Personality of Man, Ch. XX, pp. 177-179. 35 Broad (C. D.): Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research, p. 45. 36 Avasyakaniryukti, 76.
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