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EXAMINATION OF THE DEFINITION OF " SENSE-PERCEPTION”. 627
TEXTS (1239-1242). CONCEPTUAL CONTENT BEING HELD TO BE AS ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD
AND DESCRIBED ABOVE, IT IS THE DENIAL OF THE SAMEXESS OF THIS WITH SENSE-PERCEPTION THAT HAS BEEN ASSERTED; AND THIS IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE FACT OF ITS BEING SPOKEN OF BY SUCH WORDS as Adhyaksa (Pratyalesa') AND THE LIKE. IN SENSE-PERCEPTION THERE IS ABSENCE OF CONCEPTUAL CONTENT, BUT CONCEPTUAL CONTENT' IS NOT THE SAME AS EXPRESSED BY WORDS'. OTHERWISE, COLOUR, ODOUR AND THE REST WOULD BECOME DETERMINATE (AS THEY ARE EXPRESSED BY WORDS '). THUS THERE IS NO ROOM FOR WHAT THE DULL-WITTED PERSONS HAVE URGED.-IF THE WORD "SENSE-PERCEPTION' ACTUALLY DENOTES Sense-perception, THEN HOW CAN ITS BEING SAID TO BE
FREE FROM CONCEPTUAL CONTENT BE HELD TO BE IMPROPER - (1239-1242)
COMMENTARY. Denial of the sameness ;-when Dirināga says that where there is no Conceptual Content, that is Sense-perception' what he does is to deny the sameness of the two; the meaning being [that Sense-perception is] that Cognition which is not of the nature of the said Conceptual Content ;-it does not deny what is contained in the content'
This disposes of the first objection.
The second objection also is not proper; because 'freedom from Conceptual Content' is not inexpressibility by words', it is only freedom determining concepts. Even though the Cognition is non-determinate, yet it is regarded as expressed by words, by reason of its being actually found to be so expressed ; and yet it does not become 'determinate, being, in this respect, like Colour and other things (which, though expressed by words, do not become determinate on that account). This is only by the way.-(1239-1242)
The following might be urged : “ Conceptual Content may be as described. But how does Sense-perception become proved to be free from Conceptual Content'?" Answer:
TEXT (1243). THAT SENSE-PERCEPTION IS FREE FROM CONCEPTUAL CONTENT IS BECOGNISED VERY CLEARLY; SINCE IT IS FOUND THAT EVEX WHEN ONE HAS HIS MIND ATTRACTED BY SOMETHING ELSE, HE HAS THE PERCEPTION OF THE BLUE COLOUR AND OTRER THINGS THROUGH
HIS SENSES.-(1243)
COMMENTARY. This shows that the absence of Conceptual Content is clearly perceived in one's own experience.-(1243)
