________________
338
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER 3.
There is definite (certain) cognition of its differentiation' i.e. certainty as regards its being different; the cause of this consists in Repetition, Close Proxicity, vividness of conviction of difference, and so forth. As a matter of fact, more Apprehension by itself does not bring about certainty, which is brought about with the help of repetition, etc. also. Hence the meaning is that there is certainty where all these conditions are present.
All this we have said on the supposition (for the sake of argument) that Atoms exist and also the external object is actually cognised by Perception; as a matter of fact however, for the Idealist, there is no external object, in the shape of Blue and the like, cognised by Perception ; because in dreams and other such conditions, there is perception of such things as the Bhre, even though such things have no existence at the tine; and this fact makes the ordinary perception of such things also at least doubtful; specially as the form of the Blue' being devoid of the nature of one or many, its cognition must be of the nature of an illusory appearance.-Nor are the Atoms admitted as existent; because they exist in sequential succession, and as they vary in regard to the point of space occupied by them, they cannot be regarded as one. Under the circumstances, in view of such an Atom, how can it be asserted that Atoms are perceptiblo as having the Blue Colour, and that the sequence las no significnnce, being imposed upon it from outside-through illusion ?-(588)
The Opponent might argue that if there were no Composite substance, how could a man with open eyes have the notion of one mountain' in reference to what are only so many Atoms?"
The answer to this is as follows:
TEXT (589).
JUST AS IN THE CASE OF THE LAMP IT IS ONLY A SERIES OF SIMILAR FLAMES WHICH BRINGS ABOUT THE ILLUSION (OF ITS BEING one);
SO (IN THE CASE OF THIE MOUNTAIN ALSO), TIDERE IS AN ILLUSION OF UNITY, EVEN THOUGH WHAT ARE REALLY COGNISED ARE SEVERAL SUBTLE ENTITIES APPEARING IN CLOSR JUXTA
POSITIOX.-(589)
COMMENTARY. In such things as the Lamp, it is the series of successively appearing similar flames that give rise to the illusion of there being one lamp ,though in reality there are several flames,-in the same manner, in the case of the mountain, what are really cognised are many small and smaller entities appearing in close juxtaposition, and this gives rise to the illusion of one ness' So that there is no incongruity at all.-(589)
Question :- "If then, the Atorns are not perceived as distinct from one another, how do they become perceptible ?"
Answer: