5 kinds of ways to get knowledge

[Paramananda das]

> "There are different stages of understanding: pratyaksa, paroksa,
> aparaksa, adhoksaja, aprakrta. The ordinary understanding, direct
> perception, is called pratyaksa. Now, higher than the pratyaksa
> understanding is paroksa, means to gather knowledge from the higher
> authorities. And above that, aparoksa, realization. And above that,
> adhoksaja. Adhoksaja means beyond the understanding of these material
> senses. And above that, there is aprakrta, completely transcendental."
>
> >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 6, 1968

in The Bhagavat, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura presents pratyaksa and paroksa
as methods of the ascending (inductive) process of knowledge. He defines
paroksa as the "collective sense perception by many persons past and
present". In other words, the term refers to the acceptance of mundane
authority. Srila Prabhupada uses paroksa in that sense too, but also in
terms of the acceptance of parampara authority (see the Bombay lecture).
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says aparoksa is ascending if it merely negates
the previous two stages. Aparoksa is descending (deductive) knowledge when
it positively searches for transcendence. Only adhoksaja and aprakrta are
fully descending. The former is devotional service under rules and
regulations, says the Thakura, and the latter is realization of love of
Godhead.