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(B) MİMAMSĂ DOOTRINE OF THE SELF,
177
If this is not admitted ; if you do not admit that the Cognition of Sound is the same that apprehends Taste and other things, then you would be admitting that there is diversity among Cognitions.-(254)
The following Text is going to show that the instance of Fire that has been cited (in Text 243) is itself 'unproven' (not admitted by all parties): -
TEXT (255).
EVEN FIRE IS NOT ALWAYS A BURNER OF ALL COMBUSTIBLE THINGS; OTHERWISE THE WHOLE (WORLD) WOULD BE INSTANTLY REDUCED
TO ASHES.—(255)
COMMENTARY. The Fire, in the form of the burner of all combustible things, is not always existent; if it were, then all combustible things would be reduced to ashes, -becanse they would always have their burner in contact with them,like that combustible thing which is in actual contact with the fire-flame.
Even', 'api', is meant to indicate that it is not only Cognition that cannot be of the nature of the apprehension of all things.-(255)
Objection- If that is so, then Fire is not always of the nature of the Burner (possessed of the power to burn); how then could it burn even the thing that is presented to it!"
The answer is provided in the following Text :
TEXT (256).
IN FACT, IT IS ONLY WHEN IT IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE COMBUSTIBLE THING THAT FIRE CAN BE RIGHTLY REGARDED AS THE burner; THUS IT IS WHY THERE DOES NOT HAPPEN THE CON TINGENCY OF ALL THINGS BEING BURNT ALL
AT ONCE.—(256)
COMMENTARY.
Thus it is it is because of our acceptance of the view just expressedthat there is no simultaneous burning of all things i.e. there is no likelihood of any such absurd contingency.-(256)
It has been argued (under Text 244, above) that" Just as the clean Mirror or Rock-crystal, etc. etc."-It is shown in the following Text that what has been alleged there would not be possible if the Mirror, etc. were eternal and always of the same form:
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