________________
EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1289
being no restrictive agency near at hand, the Capacities should belong to all things; as has been explained before.
Nor can there be any substratum for these capacities, as no useful purpose could be served by such a substratum ; specially because, being eternal, they cannot have any additional character produced in them.-Enough of this discussion --(2843-2846)
The following Text continues the discussion on the real meaning of the Proposition of the Mināmsala -
TEXT (2847). “WHEN THE validity OF THE Pramānas IS DESCRIBED AS INHERENT', -
WHAT IS MEANT IS THAT WHAT IS INHERENT ' (SELF-SUFFICIENT) IS THEIR ACTIVITY TOWARDS THE BRINGING ABOUT OF THEIR EFFECT, AFTER THEY HAVE THEMSELVES
COME INTO EXISTENCE."-(2847)
COMMENTARY.
What is meant is as follows:-"By the phrase "self-validity' it is meant that after the Pramanas (Cognitions) have become born (come about), their subsequent activity towards the producing of their own effects is independent of other causes,--that is, their causal efficiency, after they have been born, rests in themselves ; so that there is no room for the objections urged above"; this is what is meant by the other party. The effect of the Pramānas themselves consists in either the certainty regarding their own validity, or the definite cognition of the object cognised. In the bringing about of this effect, the Pramänas do not need any other cause.-(2847)
Question: Wherefore then is their need for other causes ? Answer -
TEXT (2848).
“IT IS FOR THE SECURING OF THEIR OWN EXISTENCE THAT THINGS STAND IN NEED OF A CAUSE ; WHEN ONCE THEY HAVE SECURED THEIR EXISTENCE, THEY BECOME OPERATIVE BY THEMSELVES
TOWARDS THEIR OWN EFFECTS."-(2848)
COMMENTARY Having pointed out that things in general need a cause for securing their own existence,--the same principle is applied to the case in question, of the Pramānas or Cognitions :