The Perfect Law (1931) - Page 21

Right knowledge is of four kinds: sensitive, scriptural, and visual, as well as mental knowledge.

Wrong knowledge is of three kinds, following the divisions of the sensitive and the others. [12, a pair]

original: "संज्ञानं चतुर्भेदं मतिश्रुतावधयस्तथैव मनःपर्ययम् । अज्ञानं त्रिविकल्पं मत्यादे र्भेदतश्चैव ॥ १२ ॥ युग्मं ।"

11-12. Natural knowledge is perfect, unassisted by the senses, and independent. Non-natural knowledge is of two kinds.

Right knowledge consists of four kinds:—
Sensitive knowledge (Mati Jnána) Knowledge acquired through the five senses and the mind.,
Scripture knowledge (Shruta Jnána) Knowledge derived from the study of sacred texts or symbols.,
Visual knowledge (Avadhi Jnána) Clairvoyance; the direct perception of material objects without the senses. and
Mental Knowledge (Mana-paryaya Jnána) Telepathy; the direct knowledge of the thoughts of others., and
Wrong knowledge is of three kinds, beginning with sensitive knowledge When influenced by false belief, the first three types of knowledge—Mati, Shruta, and Avadhi—are considered "wrong" or "misleading" (Kumati, Kushruta, and Vibhaṅga)..

In the same way, the application of conation is of two kinds: distinguished as the natural state and its opposite.

That which is absolute, free from the senses, and independent, is called the natural state. [13]

original: "तह दंसणुवओगो ससहावेदरवियप्पदो दुविहो । केवलमिंदियरहियं असहायं तं सहावमिदि भणिदं ॥ १३ ॥"

13. And conation attentiveness The term "conation" here refers to Darśana, or the initial, undifferentiated awareness of an object before specific details are grasped. is of two kinds: natural (Svabháva Darshana) and the opposite of its kind, non-natural (Vibháva Darshana). That which is perfect, unassisted by the senses, and independent, is called Natural.

Commentary.

Knowledge is the innate attribute of the Soul. It is pure and perfect. However, on account of the operation of knowledge-obscuring Karma Specifically Jñānāvaraṇīya Karma, which acts like a veil over the soul's natural omniscience. on the mundane soul in varying degrees, knowledge is evolved to a greater or lesser extent. When knowledge-obscuring Karma is altogether destroyed, the pure and perfect knowledge shines forth. This knowledge is the natural knowledge called Svabháva Jnána.

As long as a soul is in its mundane condition and is not altogether free from knowledge-obscuring Karma, its knowledge is impure and imperfect, and so it is called Vibháva Jnána, or non-natural knowledge.

This non-natural knowledge is of two kinds: Right knowledge and wrong knowledge. Knowledge combined with Right belief is called Right knowledge. Knowledge combined with wrong belief is termed wrong knowledge.

Again, Right knowledge has been sub-divided into four kinds:—
(a) Sensitive-knowledge: Knowledge of the self and non-self by means of the senses and the mind.