Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes difference between telepathy and clairvoyance which is verse 1.25 of the English translation of the Tattvartha Sutra which represents the essentials of Jainism and Jain dharma and deals with the basics on Karma, Cosmology, Ethics, Celestial beings and Liberation. The Tattvarthasutra is authorative among both Digambara and Shvetambara. This is verse 25 of the chapter Right Faith and Knowledge and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 1.25 - Difference between telepathy and clairvoyance
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 1.25:
विशुद्धिक्षेत्रस्वामिविषयेभ्योऽवधिमनःपर्यययोः ॥ १.२५ ॥
viśuddhikṣetrasvāmiviṣayebhyo'vadhimanaḥparyayayoḥ || 1.25 ||
Telepathy (manaḥparyayajñāna) and clairvoyance (avadhijñāna) differ with regard to purity (viśuddhi), space (kṣetra), possessor (svāmī) and subject matter (viṣaya). (25)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: [अवधिमनःपर्यययोः] अवधि और मनःपर्ययज्ञान में [विशुद्धिक्षेत्रस्वामिविषयेभ्यः] विशुद्धता, क्षेत्र, स्वामी और विषय की अपेक्षा से विशेषता होती है।
Anvayartha: [avadhimanahparyayayoh] avadhi aura manahparyayajnana mem [vishuddhikshetrasvamivishayebhyah] vishuddhata, kshetra, svami aura vishaya ki apeksha se visheshata hoti hai |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
Purity (viśuddhi) means clarity. Space (kṣetra) is the place where the objects known are present. Knower (svāmī) is the possessor. Object (viṣaya) is the object-of-knowledge (jñeya). With regard to purity (viśuddhi), telepathy is better than clairvoyance. How? It is because telepathy is able to know more subtle (sūkṣma) objects. Space (kṣetra) has already been dealt with. Subject matter (viṣaya) is dealt with later. Here possessor (svāmī) is discussed. Telepathy (manaḥparyayajñāna) arises in ascetics with high conduct, in apramattasaṃyata (seventh stage) to kṣīṇakaṣāya (twelfth stage). Even among these ascetics, it arises only in those with ascending-conduct (pravardhamāna cāritra) and not in those with descending-conduct. And even among them, it manifests itself only in those who possess one or more of the seven extraordinary accomplishments (ṛddhi). Still, not all with extra-ordinary accomplishments (ṛddhi) attain telepathy. Thus the distinction of the possessor (svāmī) or spiritual discipline is mentioned in the sūtra. Clairvoyance, on the other hand, can be possessed by the deva, infernal beings, human beings and animals. Hence these two differ in terms of their possessors.