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Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study)

by Diptimani Goswami | 2014 | 61,072 words

This page relates ‘Qualities (21): Prayatna (Effort)� of the study on the Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories with special reference to the Tarkasangraha by Annambhatta. Both Nyaya and Vaisesika are schools of ancient Indian Philosophy, and accepted in their system various padarthas or objects of valid knowledge. This study investigates how the Tarkasamgraha reflects these categories in the combined Nyayavaisesika school.

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Qualities (21): Prayatna (Effort)

Prayatna (effort) is another special quality which remains in the self. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has given only a very brief description of this quality. He just says activity (ṛt) is effort.[1] This description of effort is not very clear since effort is not the actual act. It may be said to be the “readiness of the mind coupled with an attempt towards performing that act.�[2] According to Praśastapāda, prayatna is of two kinds, viz., īԲū첹 and 屹ṣaū첹. The first one is that which arises from just living and the second one arises from desire and aversion.[3]

վśٳ says that effort is of three kinds, viz., ṛtپ (inclination), Ծṛtپ (disinclination) and ᾱԲṇa (that which sustains life). The cause of inclination is the desire to do (īṣ�) notion of feasibility through one’s effort (ṛtsādhya), knowledge of being productive of the desirable (ṣṭ󲹲Բٱپ) and the perception of the material (upādānasya adhyakṣyam). Disinclination arises from aversion and the knowledge of producing something repugnant.[4] The effort which sustains life is described as the cause of the movement of the vital force in the body.[5] This continues throughout life, and it is beyond senses.

Footnotes and references:

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[2]:

Ibid., p.361

[3]:

ղśṣi첹岹śԲ with ʰśٲ岹ṣy, p. 216

[4]:

ṣāp岹, p. 243

[5]:

śarīre prāṇasañcāre kāraṇam parikīrtīta�/ Ibid., p.255

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