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CHAPTER TWO
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specific then why does mati-jñāna not take place through the instrumentality of the manas?
Answer : It does take place. But the general grasping of an object which initially takes place through the instrumentality of the manas and which involves no consideration of the wordmeaning relation or of the contextual succession, nor a speciality of the form of conceptualization—that precisely is the mati-jñāna in question. On the other hand, the subsequently arising stream of reflection that involves the said speciality is śruta-jñāna; that is to say, in the case of the cognitive operation produced by the manas the initial minor portion is of the form of mati-iñāna while the subsequent major portion is of the form of śruta-jñāna. The crux of the matter is that through the instrumentality of the five cognitive organs tactile etc. mati-jñāna alone takes place but
rough that of the manas mati as well as śruta. But in the latter case śruta is more prominent than mati. That is why in the present context śruta has been said to be the object of the manas.
Question : But why has the manas been called anindriya ?
Answer : Though it too, being a means of cognition, is an indriya, yet in order to operate in relation to the objects like colour etc. it has to depend on the indriyas like eyes etc. It is on account of this dependence that it has been called anindriya or no-indriya—that is, part-indriya or indriya-like.
Question : Does the manas too like eyes etc., reside in some particular part of the body, or is it present throughout the body ?
Answer : It is present everywhere inside the body' not at some particular part of it. For the manas operates in relation to all objects whatsoever grasped by the cognitive organs present in the different parts of the body, a phenomenon that is unaccountable except on the supposition that the manas is coextensive with body. That is why it has been said 'manas is present wherever there is breath.'
1. This is how the Śvetāmbara tradition views the matter. According to the Digambara tradition, on the other hand, the seat of the manas is not the entire body but heart alone.
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