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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
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object, but only the awareness of the object that we get. In this sense, it would be different to make avagraha as determinate cognition coming after darśana. In that case darśana will become mere species of the jñāna and it would be reduced to mere sensation. The higher form, of darśana like the kevaladarśana would be meaningless.
Avagraha is therefore the stage of sensation. It is the first stage of experience. It is the given, it does not involve the stage of darsana which is qualitatively different from jñāna. Avagraha is a species of jñāna. It is immediate experience.
STAGES IN THE AVAGRAHA :!:'>> Avagraha has been considered to be the stage of consideration. This has been further distinguished into 2 stages : (1) vyañjana avagraha and (2) artha avagruha. Vyañjanāvagraha is the earlier stage. In the Višeşāvasyakabhāşya, we get the description of the vyañjanāvagraha. It is a physiological stimulus condition of the sensation. It is only the reation of the sense-organs and the object in the form of sense stimulations. In the Nandīsūtra, we get the example of the earthen pot and the drops of water. It gives a description of the stage of vyañjanavāgraha. A clay pot is to be filled with water. In the beginning when water is poured, a portion of the water is absorbed by the pot. And there is no sign of the existence of the water. If we go on pouring the water again, at a certain stage the water will be visible. Then the water begins to accumulate. The stage when the water begins to be visible in the threshold of saturation. The drops of water below the threshold get absorbed in the pot. Similarly, a person who is asleep receives the sound stimulation continuously for sometime. The sound atoms reach the ear. Innumerable instances have to occur before the ear becomes conscious of the sound. So far he was not aware of the sound athough the auditory stimulations were pouring in. We may call this, the stage of first awareness, "the threshold of awareness.” The sound sensation begins to be experienced the moment
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Sarvārthasiddhi, 1, 15, 111 (a) Tattvārthasūtra 1, 17-18 (b) Dhavalā 1, 1, 1, 115, 354, 7. Višeşāvaśyakabhāşya, 191, 193.
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