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TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XXIV.
TEXT (2546). INASMUCH AS IT IS ETERNAL, INDEPENDENT, THE Akāshic Auditory Organ CANNOT BE INFLUENCED BY MERIT AND DEMERIT ; AND HENCE SHOULD NOT FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE EXPERIENCE OF ANY ONE AT
ALL.-(2546)
COMMENTARY. * Being eternal' is the reason for being independent' and also for "being not influenced by Merit and Demerit':-(2546)
Question -"Even though it is independent, why cannot it be influenced (by Merit and Demerit) ? " Anster
TEXT (2547). THE Akasha IS NEVER AFFECTED BY MERIT AND DEMERIT; BEING ETERNAL, IT CAN NEVER BE AN EFFECT ; WHAT SORT OF
INFLUENCE' THEN CAN THERE BE OVER IT-(2547)
COMMENTARY. • Being independent' implies that it is not an effect; and what is not an affect cannot be influenced or affected by anything: 0.g. the Hare's Horn, or the Unconscious Destruction of things ;-and the Auditory Organ is not an effect ;-hence there is apprehension of a character contrary to the wider term.
Being clernal' sets aside the 'inadmissibility of the Reason :- not being an effect, etc. etc. sets aside its 'inconclusiveness '-(2547)
Says the Opponent :-" It is found that even what is not an effect is influenced by things : for instance, the Auditory Organ, which was not within range of one's experience before in the case of the deaf) comes within its range, through the influence of medicines and charms. Thus your Reason becomes Inconclusive ".
The answer to this is as follows:
TEXT (2548).
HOW COULD THE AUDITORY ORGAN COME WITHIN THE RANGE OF ONE'S EXPERIENCE, THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF CHARMS AND MEDICINES, ETC.? BEING ETERNAL, IT CANNOT DERIVE ANY
PECULIARITIES FROM THESE.(2548)
COMMENTARY. Medicines, etc.?-etc.' includes scratchings, operations.
How could it, etc. - i.e. if, even so, it did not have the character of an effect.