No More Learning

Moreover one reads in the Sutras, "The Aryan Sravaka teaches
39
true seeing and knowing:
moment the errors of idea, of thought and of view relative to the impermanent taken for the permanent, are abandoned by them," and the rest. As a consequence, only the ideas and thoughts provoked by erroneous views, or associated with erroneous views,
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this is the Truth of Suffering. . . At this
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are errors, and not the others, which are abandoned through Meditation.
In fact, it happens that the Aryan, through an illusion which lasts only as long as he first sees an object, produces attachment to pleasure, such as the illusion caused by the circle of a fire-brand or by a painted Yaksa. There is no error in the Aryan, but only a
40
mistaken idea and thought (samjnacittaviabhrama, vi. 60). 41
3. But the Sthavira Ananda said to the Aryan VaglSa, "Your
42
mind is burned by the error of your ideas. " How do we explain
these words if one admits the thesis of the Vaibhasikas?
43
4.
the eight errors of idea and thought. It is true that these errors are abandoned by means of correct knowledge of the Truths, and not without this knowledge.
The Sutra that the Vaibhasikas quote (p. 783, line 29) thus
As a consequence the Saiksa has not completely abandoned
indicates the means (upaya) of abandoning these said errors; there 44
is no contradiction here with the Sutra of VaglSa.
***
The anusaya of erroneous view is subdivided in this manner. Is it the same for the other anuiiayasi
It is the same for pride.
45 10a. There are seven types of pride (mana):
These are mana, adhimana, manatmana, asmimana, abhimana, unamana, and mithyamana.
In general, arrogance of the mind (ii. 33b) is called mana. Mana is subdivided on the basis of its different modes: 1. Mana: when the mind makes itself lofty or develops pride by thinking, "I am superior" or "I am equal"relative to an inferior or to an equal. 2.
? Adhimdna: to think, "I am superior," "I am equal," relative to an equal, or to a superior. 3. Mandtimdna: to think, "I am superior" relative to a superior. 4. Asmimdna: when the mind prides itself by taking the five updddnaskandhas for its "self" and "mine. " 5. Abhimdna to think that one possessess distinctions, that is, some dharmas, pure or impure, which abide in absorption, when one does not possess them (v. 27b-c). 6. Unamdna: to think, "I am slightly inferior" relative to that which is greatly superior. 7. Mithydmdna: to attribute to oneself spiritual qualities which one does not possess.
Abhimdna has a substantial basis: it is savastuka\ this is the pride of someone who has some qualities resembling the visesas. Mithydmdna has no substantial basis: this is the pride of someone who has no qualities whatsoever but who believes that he has some.
***
Yet the Sastra {Jndnaprasthdna, TD 26, p. 1028b26) teaches nine types of pride, mdnavidhd, or simply vidha, namely, 1. "I am superior;" 2. "I am equal;" 3. "I am less good;" 4. "Another is better than I;" 5. "He is equal to me;" 6. "He is worse than I;" 7. "Another is not better than I;" 8. "He is not my equal;" and 9. "He is not worse than I. "
Which of the seven types of pride make up these nine types?
lOa-b. Three make nine types.
These nine types come from three mdnas, namely mdna, adhimdna and unamdna.
The first three are the three mdnas which reside in the erroneous view of self. One first thinks "me. " Then there arises in order adhimdna, mana, and unamdna. One has a type of mana
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which consists of saying, "I am better," adhimdna which resides in erroneous views, and the rest. The second three are, in their order, unamana, mana, and adhimdna. The third three are, in their order, mana, adhimdna, and unamana.
We see that although we think "I am a bit inferior" relative to some one greatly superior, this is indeed unamana, for the mind prides itself in this thought; but how can this type of mana "He is not worse that I" be a locus of pride?
This is indeed a locus of pride, since one esteems oneself relative to a group of excellent persons which one regards as superior, even though one is really vastly inferior to them.
##*
We have reproduced the explanation of the Jndnaprasthdna: but, according to the Prakaranapdda (TD 26, p. 693a29), the first type of pride, "I am better," comes from three of the seven types of pride,--namely mdnaf adhimdna, mdndtimana,--accordingly as one judges oneself better than an inferior, better than an equal, or better than a superior.
#**
How are the seven types of pride abandoned?
10b. They perish through Seeing and Meditation.
All, including asmimdna, perish, that is, are abandoned, through Seeing and Meditation.
***
Must we believe that, among the Aryans, the anusayas which
? are abandoned though Meditation and which have not yet been
46 abandoned, are presently active?
Not necessarily.
10c-11a. The paryavasthdna of killing, etc. , is abandoned 47
through Meditation; [the thirst for non-existence, etc. ]
The paryavasthdna of killing (see v. 47), refers to the defile-
ment, klesa, by which one voluntarily commits murder. "Of killing,
etc. ," refers to killing, stealing, adultry, and lying. These
paryavasthdnas have the dharmas abandoned through Meditation 48
11a. The thirst for non-existence, etc.
49
Vibhavatrsnd "the thirst for non-existence/' is also aban-
doned through Meditation. By vibhava ("non-existence") we mean the impermance of the three Dhatus, Kamadhatu, etc. Desire
50 (trsnd) which is directed to impermanence is called vibhavatrsnd.
The word "et cetera" (tatha) shows that one should add a part of bhavatrsnd, the thirst for existence, to vibhavatrsnd, for example the desire "Would that I could become Airavana, King of the Nagas! " [The same for the desire to become Kuvera, the desire to become a woman; but not the desire to become Indra].
Ua-d. Among the Aryans the various types of pride, etc. , and egotism, [--because they are nourished by views--] and
51
The types of pride, etc. are not produced, and do not become active among the Aryans, nor is there any longer "egotism" among them.
for their object.
bad regret, are impossible.
"Et cetera" signifies the anusayas enumerated above, the
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paryavasthdnas of killing, the desire for non-existence and part of the desire for existence.
Why is this?
lib. Because they are nourished by views.
Because all these anusayas are nourished by erroneous views: 52
when their nourishment is burned up, they no longer have the power to arise (or: the Aryans no longer produce them).
Mana and asmita, "egotism," are nourished through wrong views; the desire for non-existence is nourished through the view of annihilation; and a part of the desire for existence is nourished through the view of eternalism.
Even though "bad regret" (ii. 28) is abandoned through Meditation, it does not become active among the Aryans, because it is nourished by doubt.
***
Among the ninety-eight anusayas, how many are universal? How many are not universal?
12. Universal anusayas are 1. the erroneous views and doubts which are abandoned through the Seeing of Suffer- ing and Arising, 2. the ignorance which is associated with
53 them, and 3. independent ignorance.
This makes eleven anusayas\ the five erroneous views which are abandoned by the Seeing of Suffering; wrong views and the esteeming of views abandoned through Seeing of Arising; and two doubts and two ignorances abandoned through the Seeing of Suffering and the Seeing of Arising.
? These eleven anusayas are called "universal," "going every- where," because they grasp the entire Dhatu as their object. (See
54
1. Objection: Do these universals grasp their entire Dhatu succesively or all at once?
In the first hypothesis, the definition would apply to the other anusayas as well; and the second hypothesis is inadmissible: in fact no one considers the totality of the Dhatu as a means of purification; it is only certain practices which are the object of the esteeming of morality and ascetic practices. In the same way, no one considers the totality of the Dhatus as the cause of the world, but only Isvara, Prajapati, etc.
2. [Answer of the Vaibhasikas:] We do not say that the universals have the entire Dhatu for their object all at once, but rather they have the Dhatu in its five categories for their object: "entire" refers to the totality of types.
3. But, if we understand universality in this way, desire and pride {trsna and mana) would also be universals.
There is atmadrsti, "a view that there is the self," relative to the five upadanaskandhas: there will be atmatrsna, "desire for a self" relative to the same skandhas. There is agradrsti, "opinion that this is better" (a drsfiparamarsa), and suddhidrsti, "opinion that this is a means of purification" relative to a certain object: and there will be desire relative to this same object. And there will also be pride, mana, relative to the same objects.
In this hypothesis of their univerality, how are thirst and pride abandoned?
Like a belief in a self {satkayadrsti), etc. , their object is abandoned through Seeing and Meditation. Or should we think that they are to be abandoned through Seeing (like satkayadrsfi) or through Meditation.
The author answers: As their object is mixed, they are abandoned through Meditation. Or rather, they are abandoned through Seeing, for they exist through the efficacy of the view.
p. 790, line l).
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4. [The Vaibhasikas reply:] thirst and pride are special defilements and not general defilements (v. 23). This is why they are not universal. (There is thirst and pride related to an object relative to which there is dtmadrsti, but not relative to the whole of this object at once. )
We have seen that eleven anusayas are universal (that is, bearing on all the categories) in their Dhatu, in the sphere of existence wherein the person is born in whom they are found:
13a-b. Among them, nine, with the exception of the two
55
With the exception of a belief in a self (satkayadrsti) and a belief in extremes (antagrahadrstai), the nine other universals are also universals in a different Dhatu; they sometimes bear on a different Dhatu, sometimes on two, for it is said (in the Prakaran- apdda, TD 26, p. 711a24), "There are some anusayas of the realm of Kamadhatu (that is, produced among the beings of Kamadhatu) which bear on the dharmas of the realm of Rupadhatu, on the dharmas of the realm of Arupyadhatu, or on the dharmas of both the realms of Rupadhatu and Arupyadhatu. (And there are some anusayas of the realm of Rupadhatu which bear on the dharmas of the realm of Arupyadhatu). "
**#
[Objection:] When some beings in Kamadhatu produce the opinion that Brahma is a being, the opinion that he is permanent, they then entertain a belief in a self and a belief in extremes with regard to a thing belonging to a different, superior Dhatu. Thus you are wrong to exclude these two erroneous views from the list of the universal anusayas in a different Dhatu.
But one does not have the idea of a self and of things pertaining to a self with regard to Brahma: thus the idea that he is
views, bear on the superior.
? a being is not a belief in a self. And a belief in extremes is created by a belief in a self; thus the idea of the permanence of Brahma is not a belief in extremes (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 93a4ff).
What sort of views would a belief in a living being and a belief in permanence be with respect to Brahma?
The Abhidharmikas say that there are no erroneous views here, but only "false knowledge/* (All speculative knowledge which errs, viparitdlambana is not considered as views).
But why are the other false opinions which have Brahma for their object (the esteeming of morality and ascetic practices, etc. ) considered as erroneous views, and not the two opinions of being and permanence?
The Siddhanta serves as authority (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 93a). ***
Are only the anusayas universals?
13c-d. With the exception of the praptis, dharmas coexist- ant with the universal anusayas are also universals.
"Coexistant dharmas* refer to sensation, etc. Not the praptis, because the prapti (adherence) and the prdpya (the thing adhered to) do not have the same result (ii. 36c).
Are universal anusayas universal causes (ii. 54c-d)?
1. Future universal anusayas are not universal causes. 2. Coexistents of past and present universal anusayas are universal causes, but not universal anusayas. 3. Past and present universal anusayas are universal causes. 4. Future coexistents of universal anusayas are neither universal anusayas nor universal causes.
##*
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Among the ninety-eight anusayas, how many have a pure dharma for their object, that is, the Third and Fourth Truth, the Truth of Extinction and the Path? How many have an impure dharma}
14. Wrong views, doubt, and the ignorance which is bound (yukta) to them, and independent ignorance, abandoned through the Seeing of Extinction and the Path, make six
56 anusayas whose object is pure.
Except for the six,--that is, the three anusayas abandoned through the Seeing of Extinction, namely wrong views, doubt, and the ignorance associated with them or independent of them, and these same three anusayas abandoned through Seeing the Path,--all the other anusayas have impure dharmas for their object.
15. The extinction of their own bhumi is the object of the anusayas which have extinction for their sphere; the Path with its six or nine bhumis, is the object of the anusayas which have the Path for their sphere, for the Paths depend
57 on one another.
The three anusayas (wrong views, doubt, and ignorance) which are abandoned through the Seeing of Extinction and which have Extinction for their object, do not have Extinction for their total object: when they belong to Kamadhatu, they bear on Extinction in Kamadhatu, and so on from bhilmi to bhumi, until: when they belong to Bhavagra {naivasamjnanasamjnanayatana) they bear on Extinction in Bhavagra.
When they are in the realm of Kamadhatu, the three anusayas which have the Path for their object bear on the totality of the Path as well as on a portion of the dharmajnana (vi. 26), with its six bhumis (namely anagamya, dhyanantara, and the four
? Dhyanas) (see ii. 52c, vii. 9).
When they are of the realm of Rupadhatu or Arupyadhatu (four Dhyanas, four Arupyas), these same anusayas bear on the totality of the Path, and on a part of the anvayajnana (vi. 26), with its nine bhumis (namely the preceeding six and the first three Arupyas). In fact the Paths are mutually dependent, (ii. 52).
Although dharmajndna and anvayajnana are mutually depend- ent, because anvayajnana is not opposed to Kamadhatu, the three anusayas of the realm of Kamadhatu which have the Path for their object do not have the Path which forms part of the anvayajnana for their object.
But the dharmajndna which is opposed to Kamadhatu is also opposed to Rupadhatu and Arupyadhatu (vii. 9): consequently it will also be the object of the three anusayas of these two Dhatus which have the Path for their object.
Dharmajndna in its entirety is not opposed to Rupadhatu and Arupyadhatu, for the dharmajndna of Suffering and Arising are not opposed to these two Dhatus. [Thus it is not the object of the three anusayas of these two Dhatus. ]
And dharmajndna is not opposed to Rupadhatu and Arupyad- hatu in their entirety [for it is not opposed to the dharmas abandoned through Seeing. Thus it is not the object of the three anusayas of these two Dhatus], because the first two dharmajndnas are not opposed to these Dhatus, and because the first category of the anusayas of these two Dhatus, namely those which one abandons through Seeing, are not opposed by any dharmajndna.
#**
Why do not lust (rdga), anger (pratigha), egotism (mdna), the esteeming of bad views {marsa), and . the esteeming of morality and ascetic practices (pardmarsay* bear on pure dharmas, on the Extinction of Suffering or on the Path?
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16a. Lust does not bear on pure dharmas, because lust should be rejected.
The latent defilement of lust (raganusaya) should be aban-
doned; but if it has pure dharmas for its object, it will not be
rejected; in the same manner, the aspiration after good dharmas
[which takes the form of desire, but which is Right View] should
59 not be rejected.
16b. Anger does not, because pure dharmas do not do evil.
Anger arises with regard to a thing which does evil, and pure dharmas, the Extinction of Suffering or the Path, do not do evil.
16c. Egotism and the two esteemings do not, because pure dharmas are calm, pure, and excellent.
One cannot pride oneself on Extinction or the Path, for they
60 are calm.
The esteeming of morality and ascetic practices is to hold as a cause of purification that which is not such: the pure dharmas are really purification, so one cannot have a false conception of purity (suddhigrdha), with regard to them.
The esteeming of bad views is to hold as excellent that which is vile: now the pure dharmas are what are best, so one cannot have a false conception of excellence (agragraha), with regard to them.
***
Among the ninety-eight anusayas, how many become anusaya 61
from the fact of being an object? How many become anusayana solely through association, (solely by reason of being dharmas
? associated with the mind, sensation, etc. )?
17. Universal anusayas, relative to the object, become anufayana in all their spheres; the non-universals, in their
62 one category.
From the point of view of the object, the universal anusayas (v. 12) become anusayana, that is, "become lodged in" the five categories of their sphere; the other in one category: the anusayas that one abandons through the Seeing of Suffering become
anusayana in the dharmas that one abandons through the Seeing of Suffering . . . the anusayas that one abandons through Meditation become anusayana in the dharmas that one abandons through Meditation.
This general rule calls for more precision.
18a-b. Not the anusayas that bear on the pure dharmas or a higher sphere, because their object is not "made one's own"
6 and opposes the anusayas. *
The six anufayas which have the pure dharmas--Nirvana or the Path (v. 14)--for their object, and the nine anusayas which have a higher sphere (v. l3a-b) for their object do not become anusayana in the object, because one does not do this thing by oneself either through the "view of self or through desire.
Other anusayas would apply (anusi) to the thing which one considers (through a belief in a self) as the self, or which one makes one's own through desire, and they become anusayana, as dust is applied to a wet piece of cloth (see Vydkhyd ad i. 4, p. 14. 2). But the pure dharmas and the higher bhumis are not susceptible of being considered as "self" or as "pertaining to self": thus the anusayas which have them for their object do not become anusayana in their object, because of the nature of their object.
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We would remark in fact that the desire that seeks either the pure dharmas or a higher sphere is not the anusaya called "desire," but rather "an aspiration for good dharmas' (p. 32,1. 8).
Further, the pure dharmas', Nirvana or the Path, are opposed to the klesas which take them as their object; the dharmas of a higher bhumi are opposed to the klesas of a lower bhumi: as a consequence the klesas cannot become anusayana there, that is, install themselves there; in the same way that the sole of the foot cannot install itself on a rock which is red hot with fire.
***
We have up to now understood the word anusayana, anusete, as "to become anusayana" in the sense of "to install," or "to become lodged in. "
According to some other masters, anusayana should be understood as anugunya. Nirvana, etc. , is not favorable (anuguna) to the arising and development of wrong views: in the same way that one says that if a person who has a cold takes a bitter medicine, there is no increase (anusayana) in the cold due to the medicine (Vydkhyd i. 4, p. 13).
18c-d. Any anusaya which is associated with a certain dharma becomes anusayana through association with this
64 dharma.
"With a certain dharma" that is, with sensation, etc.
The word eva indicates reservation: "as long as the anusaya is
not abandoned. "
***
Are there any anusayas which do not have the pure dharmas
? for their object, which do not have a superior Dhatu for their object yet which become anusayana solely through association with and not from the fact of the object?
Yes, universal anusayas which have a superior bhilmi for their object (namely the universal anusayas of the First Dhyana which have the three higher Dhyanas for their object).
***
Among the ninety-eight dhyanas, how many are bad (akusala), and how many are morally neutral, that is, without retribution (avydkrta)?
19. All the "higher" dhyanas are morally neutral. [The belief in a self, a belief in extremes, and ignorance are
65 neutral in Kamadhatu. The other anusayas, here, are bad. ]
All the anusayas belonging to Rupadhatu and Arupyadhatu are neutral. In fact, all defiled dharmas, when they bear retribution, bear painful retribution. Now suffering does exist in these two spheres, for no causes (anger, etc. ) for doing evil to others are present there.
19b. The belief in a self, a belief in extremes, and ignorance are neutral in Kamadhatu.
In Kamadhatu, a belief in a self, a belief in the extremes, and the ignorance which is associated with them, are neutral.
In fact, these anusayas are not in contradiction to giving and other good deeds. One thinks, "May I be happy in the future! ," and
66 one give gifts and observes the precepts.
The erroneous view of annihilation is favorable to deliverance.
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This is why the Bleesed One said, "Among the doctrines of the Tlrthikas, the best is that which says, 'I do not exist, things of mine do not exist; I shall not exist, things pertaining to me shall not exist. '"
These two views--a belief in a self and a belief in the extremes--are only aberrations relative to things which constitute the pseudoperson; they do not being about harm to another: thus they are morally neutral.
But these different reasons--because they are not in contradic-
tion to giving, etc. --could be applied to the "desire for heaven"
and to egotism {asmimana, v. 10), which should thus also be
67
also say, "An innate belief in a self, which is to be found among the
savage animals and birds, is neutral. But a cogitated belief in a self
68 extremes).
19c. The other anusayas, here, are bad.
The other anusayas of Kamadhatu are impure (asubha), that is, bad (akusala).
***
Among the ninety-eight anusayas, how many are roots of evil (akusalamula)? How many are not?
20a-b. Lust, anger and mudi, in Kamadhatu, are roots of 69
evil.
All lust (rdga), all anger (pratigha), and all mudi (that is, all
70
delusion or moha) belonging to Kamadhatu--with the
neutral; but the School does not admit this. Some ancient masters
is bad. "
(The same holds for an innate and cogitated belief in the
? exception of the delusion which is a belief in a self and the belief in the extremes--are, in this order, the three roots of evil, greed, anger, and ignorance.
A belief in a self and a belief in the extremes are not roots of evil, for a root of evil is only that which is bad and is only a root of
71
evil.
The other anusayas are not roots of evil.
***
How many dharmas are neutral roots? How many are not?
20c. Three roots, desire, ignorance, and matt (that is,
72
The Vaibhasikas of Kasmir hold that desire, ignorance, and prajnd which are neutral, of whatever type they are up to and
73
prajnd) are neutral.
including the prajnd which arises from retribution,
are neutral
74
roots.
Doubt (vicikitsa) cannot be regarded as a root, being twofold and mobile by nature. Egotism (mdna), being "an elevation" of the mind, is not a root, since it consists of elevation, the opposite of a root. For in this world roots are firm and reach downward.
21b-d. Four, [say the Aparantakas]: desire, views, egotism,
and delusion which are neutral; in fact there are three
20d. The others are not roots, because their modality is of duality and elevation.
contemplations based on ignorance.
75
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One can distinguish "absorption of desire" {trsnottaradhyayin),
"absorption of (wrong) views" {drstyuttaradhydyin), and "absorp-
tion of pride" {mdnottaradhydyiri). Now these contemplations are 76
such by reason of delusion or ignorance.
***
Are the fourteen "undefined points" (avydkrtavastu) of which 77
Scripture speaks so called because they are neutral (avydkrtd) in the sense that we have just studied?
No. In the Sutra a neutral question is a question which should be set aside: that is, this type of question is called neutral, not answered, because it should be set aside, or rejected. The object of such a question is termed "an undefined point. "
There are four types of questions: 1. a question to which one responds in a categorical manner; 2. a question to which one responds by distinguishing; 3. a question to which one responds by another question; and 4. a question which one should not answer.
22. Categorical response, as for death; a distinguishing
response, as for rebirth; a response by a question, as for
superiority; and a response by rejecting the question, as for
78 non-identity.
1. If one asks, "Do all beings die/' one should answer in a categorical manner, "They do. "
2. If one asks, "Will all being be reborn? " one should answer by distinguishing, "Beings endowed with defilements will be reborn; being freed from defilements will not be reborn. "
79
3. If one asks, "Is a person superior or inferior? ," one should
answer by the question, "In comparison with whom? " If he answers, "In comparison with the gods," one should answer, "He is inferior. " If one answers, "In comparison with beings in the
? painful realms of rebirth,"one should answer, "He is superior. "
4. If one asks, "Are the skandhas the same thing as a sattva or living being, or are they different? ," this is a question that is to be rejected because the thing called a "living being" does not exist. In the same way one would reject the question, "Is the child of a sterile woman white or black? "
***
How can you say (in Karika 22) that one has responded to this fourth question, since one did not answer whether the skandhas are, yes or no, identical to a living being?
This question is answered by saying, "This question is to be
80 rejected": thus there is a response to it.
***
Another says that the second question, like the first question, calls for a categorical response, "All beings do not arise. "
But the author says that in order to justify the example given
[by the Vaibhasikas] to the second type of question, to someone
81
who asks, "Will those who die be reborn? ," one should answer by
distinguishing, ["All will not be reborn; those who are endowed with the defilements will be reborn, but not those who are freed from them. ]
[He says again that the third question also calls for a categorical response. ]A human being in fact is at one and the same time superior and inferior according to the point of comparison. In the same manner as if one were to ask, "Is consciousness (vijndna) a cause, or is it a result? ," [one should answer, "It is a cause with respect to its result, and it is a result with respect to its cause. "]But, says the author, to someone who asks in a categorical manner "Is a person superior or inferior? /' it is not suitable to respond
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categorically, "He is superior" or "He is inferior;" one should thus respond by distinguishing: one must first be assured of the intention of the questioner.
***
The Abhidharmikas
someone asks, "Is the Blessed One the Arhat Samyaksambuddha? Is the Dharma that he speaks well spoken? Is the Samgha of the Sravakas well instructed? Is physical matter {rupa) impermanent? . . . Is consciousness (vijndna) impermanent? Can Suffering be known . . . Can the Path be known? ," then to these questions one should answer in a categorical manner, by reason of the superior
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2. An answer by distinguishing: If a person asks, "I desire that the Venerable One teaches me the dharmas" one should distin- guish, "The dharmas are numerous, past, present, and future: which do you desire that I should teach you? . " If he answers, "Teach me the past dharmas** one should distinguish, "The past dharmas are numerous: rupa} vedana, samjnd, samskdras, and vijndna" If he asks, "Teach me concerning rupa** one should distinguish, "There are three rupas, the good, the bad, and the neutral. " If one asks, "Teach me concerning the good," one should distinguish, "There are seven types of good rupa: abstention from killing . . . and abstention from idle words. " If one asks, "Teach me abstention from killing," one should distinguish, "It is of three types, arisen from the three roots of good, non-greed (alobha), non-anger {advesa), and non-ignorance (amoha)** If one asks, "Teach me the abstention from killing arisen from non-greed," one should distinguish, "It is twofold, vijnapti and avijnapti. Which do you desire that I teach you? "
3. A response by a question: The same question, put by a false-hearted person, is a question to which one should respond by another question. If such a person asks, "I desire that the Venerable
benefit (of such an answer).
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say: 1. A categorical response: If
? One teach me the dharmas" one should counter-interrogate him,
"The dfoarmas are numerous: which do you desire that I teach
you? " But one need not establish the distinctions (past, present,
and future dharmas); one should continue to counter-interrogate
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But if a good-hearted person and a false-hearted person do not question you, but content themselves with expressing a desire, "Teach me the dharmas;" and if, on the other hand, one does not answer them, if one does not explain to them, and if one is content to interrogate them, "Which dharmas shall I teach you? ," how can you say that there is a question and a response?
The author answers: He who says, "Teach me the Path," asks concerning the Path, exactly as if he has said, "Which is the Path? " One the other hand, through this counter-interrogation, one explains to the questioner concerning his questions: is the Path then not explained (vj/dkrta)?
If this is the case, then is there an answer by means of a question in the second and third type of question?
No, the responses differ, for sometimes there is distinction,
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4. A question to be rejected: If one asks "Are the number of persons finite or infinite, etc. ? ," then this question should be rejected.
***
One may find in the Sutra itself the definition of these four questions and answers: the venerable Mahasarhghikas read a Sutra (Dtrgha, TD 1, p. 51bl, Madhyama, TD 1, p. 609a24) which says, "Bhiksus, there are four responses to questions. What are these four? There are some questions which one should reply categori- cally . . . ; there are some questions which one should reject. What is
him until the questioner remains silent or he himself explains. (Vibhasd, TD 27, p. 76al5ff).
and sometimes there is no distinction.
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? 804 Chapter Five
the question to which one should respond categorically? When one asks if all the skandhas are impermanent. What is the question to which one should respond by distinguishing? When someone asks what retribution in sensation a voluntary action requires. What is the question to which one should repsond by a question? When
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someone asks if sarhjna is the soul of a person, counter-interrogate, "My friend, what do you think of the soul? ," and if he answers, "My friend, I think that the soul is coarse," one should respond that the sarhjna is other than the soul (Digha, i. 195). What is the question to be rejected? When someone asks if the world is eternal, non-eternal, eternal and non-eternal, neither eternal nor non-eternal; if the number of persons is finite, infinite,
87 finite and infinite, neither finite and infinite; if the Tathagata
exists after death . . .