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OVI
FORSWORD
action cannot enjoy its result, while the Caitanya of another moment which did nothing will enjoy the result of it. That is unjust. So the Caitanya must be continuous to enjoy the results of all its previous deeds.
3. This Åtman can further be proved by the Vijñana which feels the identity of the subject in different conditions experienced at different times. Unless an eternal Âtman is accepted, who will be that subject which will remain the same in all kinds of momentary changes ? All these experiences must refer to one Âtman who is eternal and is in the form of Caitanya.
Refutation. 1. If this Caitanya and the Buddhi are the same, then Caitanya must also be non-eternal, because the Buddhi is expressed as non-eternal by you in so many instances. Jaimini, S'abara and Kumârila have said in many places that Buddhi is non-eternal. If the Buddhi is held to be one and eternal, and the changes caused according to the differences of objects, then how is it possible to justify those Vijñanas that rise in a place where there is no object? If you think that the objects seen in one place are causes of the new Vijñanas in another place where there is nothing, then, why are the previous places also not known where objects were really seen once? So these Vijñānas are independent and they do not require any objects as their causes. That knowledge also does not differ according to objects, because in many instances knowledge is seen to be caused without reference to a real object, such as the knowledge of the lotus of the sky, etc. The example of a serpent also does not seem relevent, because the serpent also being momentary is liable to get many changes. If that serpent remains the same it cannot get the changes. If you accept Ätman also as momentary then only it can get many changes.
2. The Caitanya which gets many different forms in different feelings, such as pleasure, pain, etc. should also differ according to its change of forms, just as the Caitanyas of different persons are held as different from each other only because they have different forms.
