宗鏡錄 55.25

55.25

Answer: According to the Yogācārabhūmiśāstra, there are three means of valid cognition: first, direct perception (pratyakṣa); second, inference (anumāna); third, scriptural authority (āptāgama). The treatise states: "The three means of valid cognition establish the six faculties. The citta and mental factors of the eye faculty relying on direct perception are called 'seeing'. The citta and mental factors relying on the remaining five faculties, such as the ear, are called 'knowing'. The citta and mental factors relying on inference are called 'sensing'. The citta and mental factors relying on scriptural authority are called 'hearing'." It also says: "Conventions of seeing and knowing rely on direct perception; conventions of sensing rely on inference; conventions of hearing rely on scriptural authority." The commentary explains: "'Direct perception' means that the object is immediately present before one, clearly and distinctly apprehended; this is called direct perception. The citta and mental factors of the eye are called 'seeing'. When the citta and mental factors of the five faculties such as the ear apprehend their own objects in direct perception, they are collectively called 'knowing'. The citta and mental factors of the mental faculty cognising and discerning objects in inference are called 'sensing'—just as seeing horns over a wall leads one to infer that there is an ox; inferential deduction belongs solely to the mental faculty. The citta and mental factors relying on scriptural authority are called 'hearing'—namely, the verbal teachings of the supreme noble ones are called scriptural authority, also termed 'valid cognition of the noble word'. In India, when discerning phenomena, one must possess these three means of valid cognition."