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how are they related? From the practical point of view, the cognisant intellect and the self are distinguishable by the fact that the self has knowledge. However, from the noumenal point of view, there is no distinction between the two. They are so intimately connected that they seem to be identical, because knowledge is a quality without which no entity could be identified.
Classification of Varieties of Knowledge: Knowledge can be classified by two criteria: the nature of knowledge and its source. Knowledge has two varieties, intrinsically or formally: undifferentiated, indeterminate or elementary knowledge, and determinate or detailed knowledge.
The undifferentiated knowledge occurs, at the point of the first sensory contact with an object when there is only a general awareness of it. The determinate knowledge follows the first encounter giving detailed or perceptual deliberation of the object. Traditionally, the term knowledge refers to perceptual comprehension. Indeterminate knowledge goes through four stages before it becomes determinate knowledge. The four stages are sensory organ-object contact, perceptual intuition of the object, speculation (it may be this), and perceptual judgement (it is that). There are five types of determinate knowledge. In addition to the sensory organs and mental faculties, intuition is also a source of knowledge. On the basis of sources and objects of knowledge, Jains have classified knowledge into five types (table 4.7).
Table 4.8 The five types of knowledge
Name Sensory knowledge
Source Senses and mind
Objects Material objects
Scriptural knowledge
Senses and mind
All objects at all times through authentic words or scriptures
Clairvoyant knowledge
Material objects in the universe
Inner self with proper karmic shedding or suppression Inner self with higher karmic shedding or suppression
Telepathic knowledge
Finer mind reading and thought reading. Can be achieved only by humans.
Omniscience
All objects at all times
Inner self with shedding of all four destructive karma
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