THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.

In Webster’s New International Dictionary it is said that conation is present wherever consciousness tends of itself to pass from one condition to another.

Perception is that act or process of the mind which makes known an external object; or the faculty by which one has knowledge through the medium or instrumentality of bodily organs.

Conception is defined in Beeton’s Dictionary, as the simple apprehension or perception that we have of any object without proceeding to affirm or deny anything regarding it. In this sense the word conception would express very nearly the idea conveyed by the word Darsana The initial, undifferentiated awareness of an object. as used in Jain Philosophy. In general language however the word conception as defined in Webster’s Dictionary signifies that mental act or combination of acts by which an idea or notion is formed of an absent object of perception, or of a sensation formerly felt. When we see an object with eyes open, we have a perception of it, when the same object is presented to the mind, with the eyes shut, in idea only, or in memory, we have a conception of it.

Cognition is defined as knowledge or certain knowledge as from personal view or experience.

Of the words cognition, conation, perception, and conception, conception would best convey the sense of the word Darsana, but it would be liable to mis-interpretation. In the early 20th century, "conation" was sometimes used by translators of Indian philosophy to describe the "striving" or "initial impulse" of consciousness, though today "perception" or "awareness" is more common for Darsana. Hence conation is the best word we can choose to express the idea. Darsana is that undifferentiated, detail-less, indefinite, hazy first stage of knowledge, which always precedes Jñána Detailed or cognitive knowledge., which is detailed, definite certain knowledge of an object.

Swabháva-Jñána may be translated as natural knowledge, and Vibháva Jñána as non-natural knowledge.

The two are further defined in the next Gáthá A metrical verse or stanza..

original Prakrit: केवलमिंदियरहियं असहायरं तं सहावणाणं त्ति । सण्णाणियरवियप्पे विभावणाणं हवे दुविहं॥ ११ ॥

original Prakrit: सण्णाणं चउभेयं मदिसुदओही तहेव मणपज्जं । अण्णाणं तिवियप्पं मदियाई भेददो चेव ॥ १२ ॥ जुम्मं ।

original Sanskrit: केवलमिन्द्रियरहितमसहायं तत्स्वभावज्ञानमिति । संज्ञानेतरविकल्पे विभावज्ञानं भवेद्विविधम् ॥ ११ ॥