Tattva Sangraha Vol 2

SR No.: 007609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamlashila, Ganganatha Jha
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
Publication Year: 1939
Total Pages: 887
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 84 MB

Page 325

1050
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER XXIV.
TEXTS (2230-2233).
"WHEN A LARGE PIT IS DUG IN THE GROUND, THERE IS A NOTION OF THE
Akasha IN THE PIT BEING LARGE', AND WHEN THE PIT IS SMALL, THERE IS THE NOTION OF ITS BEING 'SMALL ' ; IN THE SAME WAY THERE ARE SIMILAR NOTIONS REGARDING SOUND, WHICH ALSO (LIKE Akasha) IS NOT SOMETHING PRODUCED ; CONSEQUENTLY, THE ILLUSORY IDEA THAT PEOPLE HAVE REGARDING SOUND (BEING LARGE, INCREASED OR SMALL, DECREASED) IS DUE TO OTHER CIROUMSTANTIAL CONDITIONS; AS A MATTER OF FACT, LARGENESS' AND 'SMALLNESS ARE NEVER PERCEIVED AS RESIDING IN SOUND; AND THE ASSUMPTION OF THE LARGENESS' AND 'SMALLNESS' (OF SOUND) IS DUE TO THE GREATER AND LESS KEENNESS OF ITS PERCEPTION (HEARING). AS REGARDS PERCEPTION, IT IS ACTUALLY FOUND TO BE VERY KEEN IF THE OBJECT PERCEIVED THE JAR—IS ILLUMINED BY A LARGE SOURCE OF LIGHT, BUT LESS KEEN WHEN IT IS ILLUMINED BY A SMALL LIGHT.-FROM ALL THIS IT FOLLOWS THAT SUCH PROPERTIES AS 'LENGTH', 'SHORTNESS' AND THE LIKE RRALLY BELONG TO THE ARTICULATIONS."-2230-2233)
COMMENTARY.
The purport of all this is as follows:-If what the Opponent puts forward as his Reason is the diversity of such character as greater or less intensity (in the Sound),—then such a Reason cannot be 'admissible'; because how could one, who holds Sound to be eternal, admit that the diversity of characters, -which, according to him, belong to other circumstantial conditions,belong to the Sound ?-If, on the other hand, what is adduced by the Opponent as his Reason is the Cognition that people have of Sound being more or less intensive, which cognition cannot be possible without some difference in the character of the Sound, then the Reason is "Inconclusive'; because when a large Pit is dug in the ground, there appears the Cognition of largeness' in the Akasha contained within the Pit even though the largeness' does not belong to the Akasha ; in the same manner, in the case of Sound also,-which is absolutely causeless, not being produced at all,—the Cognition of greater or less intensity and the like would be due to the diversity in the articulations (that manifest the Sound).-even without the Sound itself having the said diverse characters.
This is what is said in the words- Consequently the illusory idea, etc. etc.
Question How is it known that the said idea is due to other circumstantial conditions, and the characters do not belong to Sound itself ?
Answer: Largeness and smallneas, etc. etc.'.-What is meant by this is as follows:- The man attributes the greater or less intensity, which really belongs to the Perception, to the Sound, and thus falls into an illusion; and it is not possible for the Sound itself to be large or small; because it has been proved through Recognition that sound is one only.