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(B) MIMĀMSĀ DOCTRINE OF THE SELF.
189
appears only occasionally, therefore it must be regarded as many also. Thus it is clear that all these I notions' would come about simultaneonsly, as their coming about is dependent upon the pressence of the said cause only.
If then the other view be accepted that the basis of the 'I-notion is non-eternal, then all I notions should be all as clearly manifest as the Visual and other Oognitions ; as they would be directly apprehending the specific individuality of the thing concerned.
For these reasons, we conclude that other people'-other philosophers, like Kumärila and others-noedlessly raise questions regarding the basis of the I notion in question,-in such words as (those under Text 232)"Oi that notion, what cognitive-moment is assumed to be the object ?" and so forth. -(278-279)
In this connection, it has been asserted by the Buddhist that the I. notion' is entirely baseless, and it appears only as an Illusion due to the beginningless Dispositions of the Vision of the Body of Being ". -As against this, Kumārila has raised an objection, which is set forth below -
TEXTS (280-281).
"WHAT THE DISPOSITION CAN DO IS TO BRING ABOUT THE RECOGNITION
OF THE COGNISER; IT CANNOT BRING ABOUT THE COGNITION OF A THING AS WHAT IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE THE CAUSE OF ILLUSION (WRONG COGNITION). Thus THE 'I-XOTION CANNOT BE REGARDED AS AN ILLUSION; AS THERE IS NOTHING TO ANNUL IT (AND HENCE PROVE IT TO BE wrong)"; [Shlokavārtika, page 720]—IF THIS IS URGED [then the answer is as given in the following Text].—(280-281)
COMMENTARY.
What the Disposition can do is to bring about the Recognition of the Cogaiser, and not the Cognition of a thing-Cogniser-as what it is not,
-.e. as not-Cogniser; the construction is that Disposition cannot bring about this latter Oognition.—"why?"-because it cannot be the cause of Illusion; in fact it always brings about the Cognition of a thing exactly as it had been cognised on the previous occasion, and not a wrong Cognition.-Thus then, because this I-notion is produced from Dispositions, and because there is no valid reason for annulling it, it cannot be regarded as an Illusion.
The term chet', if this be urged ', should be construed away from its place, after the end of the sentence.-(280-281)
The following Text answers this argument:
