What is the object of the predominating
influence
of each indriya?
Abhidharmakosabhasyam-Vol-1-Vasubandhu-Poussin-Pruden-1991
If the "complex" sees visible things, then one would always see visible things, for the "complex" is always present.
If one eye, not the two eyes, sees visible things, then parts of the body would not feel tangibles at one and the same time: in the same way that the two arms, however distant they may be from each other, can simultaneously feel tangible things and produce a single tactile consciousness, in this way what obstacle is there to the two eyes, however distant they may be from each other, simultaneously seeing and producing a single visual consciousness?
174. This is the thesis of the Bhadanta {Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 63b23, cl2).
175. caksusd rupdni drstvd. . . quoted iii. 32d. Samyukta, TD 1, p. 87c26, p. 88a; Vibhanga, p. 381; Madhyamakavrtti, p. 137; Dhammasangani, 597. This is the argument of the Mahasamghikas, Kathdvatthu, xviii. 9-
176. Compare the formula: tasyaivam jdnata evam pasyatah.
111. Vydkhyd: vijndnam tu sdmnidhyamdtrenti nd/rayabhdvayogeneti dariayati / yathd suryo divasakara iti/yathd sdmnidhyamdtrena suryo divasam karotUy ucyate tathd vijndnam vijdnatity ucyate / kasmdt /loke tathd siddhatvdt.
178. Or rather: "One should not reject expressions in worldly use for the reason that they do not correspond to realities. " janapadaniruktim ndbhiniveseta samjnam, ca lokasya ndtidhavet. {Madhyama TD 1, p. 703a2, Samyukta, 13. 12). Compare Majjhima, iii. 230: janapadaniruttim ndbhiniveseyya samannam ndtidhdveyya; Samyutta, iv. 230: yam ca sdmam ndtam ca atidhdvanti,
yam ca loke saccasammatam tarn ca atidhdvanti. Itivuttaka, 49.
179. According to the Jndnaprasthdna, TD 26, p. 919c27; Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 62bL Against the Vatslputrlyas. See above note 173, at the end.
Footnotes 147
? 148 Chapter One
180. Argument of Vasubandhu, Paficavastuka, i. 10.
181. Compare Atthasdtint, 629.
Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 63bl4 and foil: One says that the object is attained (prdpta) in a twofold
sense: either because it is "grasped as object" or "perceived;" or because there is a juxtaposition (nirantaratva) of the object and the organ. In the first sense, the six organs attain the object. In the second sense, only three organs--the organs of smell, taste and touch,--attain the object; but on the contrary, three organs, the organs of sight and hearing and the mental organ, perceive without attaining.
The organ of sight preceives visible things by reason of light; when a visible thing is close to the organ, it hinders the light: the organ does not see. The organ of hearing perceives sound by reason of space or the void; when a sound is close to the organ, it does not hinder the void: the organ hears . . . The organ of smell perceives by reason of the wind; the organ of taste, by reason of water; the organ of touch, by reason of the earth; and the mental organ, by reason of the aa of attention (manaskdra).
Fa-pao (see TD 41, p. 508al9 and foil) observes that the rupa of the moon does not leave the moon in order to juxtapose itself on the eye.
Compare Aryadeva, Sataka, 288. 182. An objection of the Vaisesikas.
183. This doctrine is refuted by Sarhghabhadra (TD 29, p. 370bl2 and foil); Shen-t'ai attributes it to the Sammitfyas; Fa-pao, to certain masters of the Vibhdsd (TD 41, p. 508bl7).
184. Samghabhadra discusses this thesis (TD 29, p. 370b23 and folL).
185. Here and below (the definition of Bhadanta, p. 106), our Tibetan version translates nirantara by 'dab chags pa. But the Tibetan Siddhantas analyzed by Wassilief (p. 307) oppose the nirantara of the Bhadanta (bar medpa) to the nirantara of the other masters ('dab chags pa).
According to the Bodhicaiyavatara, p. 516, the organ and its object cannot be either separated (savyavadhdna, santara) or contiguous (nirantara).
186. Samghabhadra (TD 29, p. 371c7): What is the meaning of "to attain? " When an object arises in proximity to an organ, this latter grasps it. Thus one can say that smell, taste, and touch grasp the objects that they attain; in the same way one says that the organ of sight does not see eyelids, eye-lashes and the other visible matter that it attains. The eyelid does not touch the organ of sight: one says nevertheless that the organ attains it. From the fact that the eyelid arises in proximity to the organ, one says that this latter attains it. As the organ of sight does not see the visible matter thus attained, one says that the organ of sight grasps without attaining, not by attaining; moreover it does not grasp a very distant object. In this same way, even though smell grasps the object that it attains, it does not grasp what is very close.
187. Compare the Vimsaka of Vasubandhu, 12-14; Bodhicaiyavatara, p. 503; Prafastapdday p. 43, etc.
188. According to Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 683c24: Do the atoms touch one another? They do not touch one another; if they touch one another, they touch one another in either their totality or partially. If they touch one another in their totality, they form but one single thing; if they partially touch one another they would thus have parts. And atoms do not have parts.
How is it that agglomerations, striking against one another, do not fall to pieces? They do not fall to pieces because vdyudhdtu holds them together.
But does not vayudhdtu fall to pieces? Sometimes it falls to pieces, for example at the end of the cosmic period. Sometimes it holds together, for example at the beginning of the cosmic period.
? If atoms do not touch one another, how can striking produce sound? Sound is produced for this very reason. For, if the atoms were to touch one another, how could there be the production of sound? If atoms touch one another, the hand and the body that it strikes would mix with one another, and there would be not free space, and how could sound arise? Vasumitra says: "Atoms do not touch one another: if they touch one another, they would thus last for a second moment. " The Bhadanta says: There is no real contact; it is through acquiescense to popular truth that one say that there is contaa when atoms arise in a union without interval (nirantara).
Does the thing in contact arise having for its case a thing in contaa . . .
189. They should have arisen (first moment) in order to touch one another (second moment).
190. Vasubandhu believes that the Bhadanta understands "juxtaposition without interval" in the sense that atoms do not allow any intermediate space bewteen them. Samghabhadra is of a different opinion.
191. For Vasubandhu, atoms are immediately juxtaposed; nevertheless they do not mix one with another, for being impenetrable, they remain distinct in spite of their contiguity. See p. 70.
Here are the essentials of Samghadra's explanations.
Nyayanusara, (TD 29, p. 372bl2): The Bhadanta nevertheless says: "Atoms do not touch one another; but one says, by metaphor, that they touch one another, because they are juxtaposed without interval" (nirantara). The Sautrantika (that is, Vasubandhu), indicating that that is the best theory, says: "This doarine is the best; otherwise, the atoms would present some intermediate space (sdntara) between them; since' these intermediate spaces are empty, what would hinder the atoms from going (one towards the other)? One admits that they are impenetrable (sapratigha). " This theory of the Bhadanta can neither be approved nor aiticized; one should solely examine how there can be any absence of an intermediate space without there being contaa: since this is not explicit, this theory is difficult to understand. If one says that atoms absolutely are without any intermediate space between them, and yet are not mixed one with another, they must have parts: a false opinion. Otherwise, if nirantara signifies "without interval" (anantara), how is it that the atoms do not touch one another? Consequently, the word nirantara signifies "close. " The prefix nis signifies "certitude. " As there is certainly an interval, the atoms are nirantara, "possessing intervals:" the same way as nirdahati, "he burns. " Or rather the prefix nis signifies "absence. " The atoms are called "without interposition" (nirantara), because there is not any rupa of contaa (sprspa) of the dimension of a atom between them. When the atoms of the primary elements arise close to one another, without "interposition," they are said, by metaphor, to touch one another. We approve the understanding of the Bhadanta thusly . . .
192. Samghabhadra (TD 29, p. 372c5) reproduces this paragraph (The Sautrantika says: 'If you admit. . . ), and following: "This is not correa. 'To have parts' and 'to be spatially divided' are two expressions of the same idea. When one says that 'an atom does not have any parts,' one says in faa that it is foreign to all spatial division. How can you be in doubt with respea to this point and still say: 'If you admit spatial division . . . ? ' Since the atoms are foreign to this division, how can they touch one another? We have explained that contaa can only be total or partial; thus the atom, foreign to any spatial division, cannot enter into contaa. How can you thus say 'If you deny spatial division, there will be no difficulty in the atoms touching one another. ' Thus the atoms are called nirantara, 'not separated,' because there is not any rupa of contaa of the dimension of an atom between them. "
See ii. 22 and the Introduction.
193. According to Vibhdsa TD 27, p. 63cl2.
194. The first opinion is that of the Sarvastivadins.
195. mdldvad avasthita = mandalena samapanktydvasthita.
Footnotes 149
? 150 Chapter One
196. The text has kila. As a general rule, Vasubandhu uses the word kila when the opinion in question is a wrong opinion of the Vaibhasikas; but here the Vyakhya says: dgamasucandrthah kilasabdah.
197. According to Vibhdsd TD p. 369cl0 and foil.
198. Unconditioned things are eternal because they do not go from one time period to another time period (advasamcdrdbhavdta, v. 25). Asamskfta, nitya, dhruva, (iv. 9) and dravya (i. 38) are synonyms.
199- According to another reading (kecit pathanti): dharmdrdham . . . See Dhammasangani, 661.
200. The Vyakhya quotes the conversation of the Brahmin Jatisrona with the Blessed One: indriydmndriydni bho Gautama ucyante /kati bho Gautama indnydni /kryatd cendriyandm samgraho bhavati . . .
201. The order of the indriyas is justified ii. 6. We have the order of our Sutra in Vibhanga, p. 122, Kathdvatthu, trans, p. 16, Visuddhimaggay xvi; and also in the Indriyaskandhaka (TD 26, p. 991b24), sixth book of the Jndnaprasthana (Takakusu, "Abhidharma Literature," JPTS, 1905, p. 93).
The small treatise of Anuruddha (Compendium, p. 175) follows the same order as the Prakaranapdda.
The Mahavyutpatti (108) places the vital organ at the end.
202. The last three indriyas are made up of (1-3) three sense faculties; (4-8) the five moral faculties; and (9) the mental organ (ii. 4); 1-8 are dharmadhdtu.
? CHAPTER TWO
The Indriyas
v / m . Homage to the Buddha.
We have enumerated the organs or indriyas with regard to the
dhatus (i. 48). What is the meaning of the word indriya?
The root idi signifies paramaisvarya or supreme authority {Dha-
tupdfha, i. 64). Whatever exercises supreme power or authority is called x
an indriya. Thus, in general, indriya signifies adhipati or ruler.
What is the object of the predominating influence of each indriya? .
la. According to the School, five are predominate with regard to
2
things;
i. Each of the five indriyas of which the organ of sight is the first--the five organs of sense consciousness--is a predominating influence (1) with regard to the beauty of the person; (2) with regard to the protection of the person; (3) with regard to the production of a consciousness and the mental states associated with this consciousness; and (4) with regard to their special mode of activity (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 730a29).
The organs of seeing and hearing are predominating influences (1) with regard to beauty, for the body in which they are missing is not beautiful (i. 19); (2) with regard to proteaion, for by seeing and hearing, a person avoids that which would destroy him; (3) with regard to the production of the seeing and hearing consciousnesses, and of the mental states associated with them; and (4) with regard to their special activities, i. e. , seeing visible things and hearing sounds.
The organs of smell, taste, and sensation are predominating influences (1) with regard to beauty, as above; (2) with regard to protection, through the consumption of solid foods (kavadikarahara,
? 154 Chapter Two
iii. 39); (3) with regard to the production of their three conscious- nesses; and (4) with regard to their special aaivities, i. e. , perceiving smells, tasting tastes, and touching tangibles.
lb. Four predominate with regard to two things;
ii. Four indriyas, namely the two sexual organs, the vital organ, and the mental organ are each a predominating influence with regard to two things (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 731bl2; see also b23, b5).
1. The sexual organs are the predominating influence (1) with regard to the distribution of living beings: it is by reason of these two that living beings form the categories of male and female; and (2) with regard to the differentiation of living beings: by reason of these two organs, there are, among the sexes, differences of physical form, voice,
3 and manner of being.
4
Some other masters do not admit this explanation. In fact there
are sexual differences among the gods of Rupadhatu who, however, do not possess sexual organs (i. 30), and their distribution into sexes results from these differences. Thus, if the sexual organs are the predominating influences from two points of view, they are the predominating influences with regard to defilement and purification: in fact, the three types of eunuchs and bisexual beings are alien (1) to the dharmas of defilement, lack of discipline (iv. l3b), mortal transgression (iv. 103), the cutting off of the roots of good (iv. 80); and (2) to the dharmas of purification, discipline (iv. l3b), acquisition of the fruits (vi. 51), and detachment (vairagya, vi. 45c) (see ii. l9c-d).
2. The vital organ is the predominating influence (1) with regard to the "joining" of the nikayasabhaga (ii. 41a), i. e. , that which concerns the arising of an existing thing; and (2) with regard to "maintaining" this nikayasabhdga, i. e. , that which concerns the prolongation of an existing thing from its arising to its extinction.
3. The mental organ is predominate (1) with regard to rebirth, as the Sutra explains, "Then there is produced among the Gandharvas, beings in the intermediate existence, one or the other of two minds, a mind of desire or a mind of hatred . . . " (iii. 15); (2) with regard to domination: the world and the dharmas submit to the mind. As the
? stanza says: "The world is lead by the mind, conducted by the mind:
5
(all dharmas obey this one dharma, the mind. )"
iii. The five indriyas of sensation (i. e. , the five sensations of
pleasure, displeasure, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and indifference; ii. 7,) and the eight indriyas of faith, (force, memory, absorption and discernment (ii. 24) and the three pure faculties, ii. 10)
lc. Five and eight with regard to defilement and to purification.
are, respectively, predominant with regard to defilement and to purification.
The sensations are predominant with regard to defilement, for the defilements, lust, etc. , attach themselves to the sensations, and take shelter therein. Faith and the seven other faculties are predominant
6 with regard to purification, for it is by them that one obtains purity.
According to other masters (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 73b6), the
sensations are also predominant with regard to purification, so that the
Sutra says: "sukhitasya cittam samddhiyatej duhkhopanisacchraddha* 9
san naiskramydsritah saumanasyddhayah ("There are, by reason of visible things, etc. , six sensations of satisfaction, six sensations of dissatisfaction, six sensations of indifference, favorable to naiskramya") Such is the explanation of the Vaibhasikas.
10
[The Sautrantikas criticize this explanation:] (1) the sense
organs, the eyes, etc. , are not predominant with regard to the protection of the person. Here predominance belongs to the con- sciousnesses, visual consciousness, hearing consciousness, etc. ; and it is after having distinguished that one has avoided anything harmful that one takes solid food. (2) That which you understand as the "proper activity of the organ," namely the seeing of visible things, etc. , belongs to the consciousness (i. 42) and not to the organ. The explanations relative to the predominance of the other indriyas are equally incorrect.
How then should one understand the predominance of the
indriyas!
2a-b. By reason of their predominance (1) with regard to the perception of their special object, (2) with regard to all objects, six organs.
The Indriyas 155
? 156 Chapter Two
That is, by reason of their predominance through their affinity to the six consciousnesses. The five organs, the first of which is the organ of sight, are predominant through their affinity to the five sense consciousnesses, visual consciousness, etc. , each one of which distin- guishes its own object, visible things, etc. The mental organ is predominant with regard to the mental consciousness which dis- tinguishes all objects. It is in this way that the six sense organs are predominant.
But, we might say, the sense objects, visibles, etc. , are also predominant through their affinity to the consciousness, and as a consequence, should they not also be considered as indriyas?
They are not predominant merely by this. "Predominance" means "predominant power. " The eye is predominant, for (1) it exercises this predominance with regard to the arising of the consciousness that knows visible things, being the common cause of all consciousnesses of visible things, whereas each visible thing merely aids the arising of but one consciousness; (2) the visual consciousness is clear or obscure, active or well, accordingly as the eye is active or weak: now visible things do not exercise a similar influence. The same holds for the other sense organs and their objects (i. 45a-b).
2c-d. It is by reason of their predominance in masculinity and femininity that one must distinguish two sexual organs within the body.
There are two separate sexual organs within the kdyendriya, or the organ of touch. These two organs are not distinct from the kdyendriya: they too cognize tangible things. But there is a part of the kdyendriya that receives the name of male organ or female organ because this part
n
exercises predominance over masculinity or femininity.
the physical form, the voice, the hearing, and the dispositions proper to women. The same for masculinity. Since the differences of these two natures are due to these parts of the body, we know that these two parts are predominant through their two natures. Hence they consti- tute indriyas.
3. It is by reason of their predominance with regard to the
Femininity is
? duration of existence, to defilement, to purification, that one considers the vital organ, the sensations, and the five the first of which is faith, as indriyas.
1. The vital organ is predominant with regard to the prolongation of existence from birth to death, but not, [as the Vaibhasikas say,] with regard to the connection of one existence with another: this connection depends on the mind
2. The five sensations are predominant with regard to defilement,
12
for the Sutra says, "Lust finds its shelter in the sensation of pleasure;
hatred, in the sensation of displeasure; confusion, in the sensation of
13
indifference. " [On this point the Sautrantikas are in agreement with
the Vaibhasikas. ]
3. The five faculties,--faith, force, memory, absorption, and
discernment--are predominant with regard to purification, for,
through their power, the defilements are disturbed and the Path is
14 brought about.
4. By reason of their predominance with regard to ascending acquisitions, with regard to Nirvana, etc. , the andjndtamdjnds-
ydmindriya, the ajnendriya, and the ajndtdvindriya, are 15
likewise.
"Likewise," that is, these three are, likewise, considered as pre- dominating influences or indriyas. These are the three pure indriyas, which will be defined ii. lOa-b.
1. The first is predominant through the acquisition of the second. The second is predominant through the acquisition of the third. The third is predominant through the acquisition of Nirvana, or
nirupadhisesanirvdna. For there is no Parinirvana when the mind is 16
not delivered
2. The word "et cetera" indicates that there is another explanation: The first is predominant with regard to the extinctions of the
defilements which are abandoned through Seeing the Truths (v. 4). The second, with regard to the extinction of the defilements which
are abandoned through Meditation on the Truths (v. 5a).
The third, with regard to blessedness-in-this-life, that is, the
The Indriyas 157
? 158 Chapter Two
experience of the satisfaction (prtti = saumanasya) and the well-being (sukha = prasrabdhisukha, viii. 9b) that comes from deliverance from the defilements. (See below note 22).
#**
Why are there only twenty-two indriyas? If you regard a "pre-
dominating influence" as an indriya, ignorance and the other parts of
pratityasamutpada (iii. 21) would be indriyas\ for these causes (avidya,
etc. ) are predominant with regard to their effects (the samskdras, etc. ).
In the same way, the voic^, hands, feet, the anus, and the penis are
predominant with regard to words, grasping, walking {viharana- 17
cankramana), excretion, and pleasure.
We would answer that there is no reason to add ignorance, etc. , to
the list proclaimed by the Blessed One.
In enumerating the indriyas, the Blessed One took into account the
following characteristics:
5. The support of the mind; that which subdivides, prolongs, and defiles this support; that which prepares the purification
18 and which does purify it: these are all the indriyas,
1. The support of the mind consists of the six organs of
consciousness, from the organ of sight to the mental organ. These are
the six internal ayatanas (i. 39, iii. 22) which are the primary constitu- 19
ents of a living being.
2. This sixfold support is differentiated by reason of the sexual
organs.
3. It lasts for a time by reason of the vital organ.
4 It is defiled by reason of the five sensations.
5. Its purification is prepared by the five moral faculties, faith, etc. 6. It is purified by the three pure faculties.
The dharmas that possess the characteristic of being predominant
with regard to the constitution, the subdivision, etc. of a living being are considered to be indriyas. This characteristic is missing in other dharmas, in voice, etc.
? (Some other masters give a different definition:)
6. Or rather there are fourteen indriyas, support of transmigra- tion, origin, duration, enjoyment of this support; the other indriyas have the same function with regard to Nirvana.
The expression "or rather" introduces the explanation of other masters.
On the other hand:
(15-19) The five faculties,--faith, force, memory, absorption, discernment,--are the support of Nirvana.
(20) Nirvana is generated, appears for the first time, through the first pure faculty, andjndtamdjndsydmmdriya.
(21) Nirvana lasts, is developed, through the second pure faculty,
ajnendriya.
(22) Nirvana is "experienced" by the third pure faculty, djndtd-
vindriyay for, through this faculty, one experiences the satisfaction and well-being of deliverance (see above ii. 4).
This determines the number of indriyas, as well as the order in which the Sutra places them.
***
The voice, hands, feet, the anus, and the sexual parts are not
indriyas.
1. The voice is not predominant with respect to words, for words
22
suppose a certain instruction; 2-3. Hands and feet are not pre-
dominant with regard to grasping and walking, for grasping and walking are simply the hands and feet arising a second moment in another place and with a new figure (iv. 2b-d). On the other hand, we
(1-6) The six organs (sadayatana, iii. 22), from the organ of sight to 20
the mental organ, are the support, the raison d'etre of samsdra.
(7-8) It is through the sexual organs that the saddyatanas arise. (9) It is through the vital organ that the saddyatanas last.
(10-14) It is through the five sensations that the saddyatanas enjoy.
The Indriyas 159
21
? 160 Chapter Two
see that hands and feet are not indispensable for grasping and walking,
23
for example with snakes. 4. The anus is not predominant with
regard to the expulsion of matter, for heavy things always fall in a void; further, wind pushes this matter and makes it go out; 5. The sexual parts are not predominant with regard to pleasure for pleasure
24 is produced by the sexual organs.
If you consider the hands, the feet, etc. , as indriyas, you must then place the throat, the teeth, the eyelids, and the joints, whose function it is to swallow, to chew, to open and close, to fold up and to extend the bones, among the indriyas. In this way, everything that is a cause, which exercises its action (purusakara, ii. 58) with regard to its effects, would be an indriya. But we must reserve the name of indriya to whatever possesses predominance.
***
We have defined the organs of consciousness and the sexual organs (i. 9-44); the vital organ will be explained with the cittaviprayuktas (ii. 35) among which it is placed; the five faculties,--faith, force, etc. ,-- being mental states, will be explained with the mental states (ii. 24):
We shall examine here the organs of sensation and the pure faculties which are not found anywhere else.
25 7a-b. Disagreeable bodily sensation is the indriya of pain.
26
("Bodily" is "that which relates to the body," that which is
associated with the five sense consciousnesses, visual consciousness, etc. )"Disagreeable" is that which does harm. Sensation in relation to the five organs of sense consciousness, and which does harm, is called duhkhendriya.
7b-c. Agreeable is the indriya of pleasure.
"Agreeable" is that which does good, which comforts, is beneficent.
Agreeable bodily sensation is termed sukhendriya.
7c-d. In the Third Dhyana, agreeable mental sensation is also
? an indriya of pleasure.
(Mental sensation is the sensation associated with mental con- sciousness. ) Agreeable mental sensation of the Third Dhyana is also called sukhendriya, an indriya of pleasure. This name, moreover, is reserved for agreeable bodily sensation; but in the Third Dhyana, bodily sensation is absent because the five sense consciousnesses are not there. Then, when one speaks of the sukha or pleasure of the Third Dhyana, one means agreeable mental sensation (see vii. 9).
174. This is the thesis of the Bhadanta {Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 63b23, cl2).
175. caksusd rupdni drstvd. . . quoted iii. 32d. Samyukta, TD 1, p. 87c26, p. 88a; Vibhanga, p. 381; Madhyamakavrtti, p. 137; Dhammasangani, 597. This is the argument of the Mahasamghikas, Kathdvatthu, xviii. 9-
176. Compare the formula: tasyaivam jdnata evam pasyatah.
111. Vydkhyd: vijndnam tu sdmnidhyamdtrenti nd/rayabhdvayogeneti dariayati / yathd suryo divasakara iti/yathd sdmnidhyamdtrena suryo divasam karotUy ucyate tathd vijndnam vijdnatity ucyate / kasmdt /loke tathd siddhatvdt.
178. Or rather: "One should not reject expressions in worldly use for the reason that they do not correspond to realities. " janapadaniruktim ndbhiniveseta samjnam, ca lokasya ndtidhavet. {Madhyama TD 1, p. 703a2, Samyukta, 13. 12). Compare Majjhima, iii. 230: janapadaniruttim ndbhiniveseyya samannam ndtidhdveyya; Samyutta, iv. 230: yam ca sdmam ndtam ca atidhdvanti,
yam ca loke saccasammatam tarn ca atidhdvanti. Itivuttaka, 49.
179. According to the Jndnaprasthdna, TD 26, p. 919c27; Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 62bL Against the Vatslputrlyas. See above note 173, at the end.
Footnotes 147
? 148 Chapter One
180. Argument of Vasubandhu, Paficavastuka, i. 10.
181. Compare Atthasdtint, 629.
Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 63bl4 and foil: One says that the object is attained (prdpta) in a twofold
sense: either because it is "grasped as object" or "perceived;" or because there is a juxtaposition (nirantaratva) of the object and the organ. In the first sense, the six organs attain the object. In the second sense, only three organs--the organs of smell, taste and touch,--attain the object; but on the contrary, three organs, the organs of sight and hearing and the mental organ, perceive without attaining.
The organ of sight preceives visible things by reason of light; when a visible thing is close to the organ, it hinders the light: the organ does not see. The organ of hearing perceives sound by reason of space or the void; when a sound is close to the organ, it does not hinder the void: the organ hears . . . The organ of smell perceives by reason of the wind; the organ of taste, by reason of water; the organ of touch, by reason of the earth; and the mental organ, by reason of the aa of attention (manaskdra).
Fa-pao (see TD 41, p. 508al9 and foil) observes that the rupa of the moon does not leave the moon in order to juxtapose itself on the eye.
Compare Aryadeva, Sataka, 288. 182. An objection of the Vaisesikas.
183. This doctrine is refuted by Sarhghabhadra (TD 29, p. 370bl2 and foil); Shen-t'ai attributes it to the Sammitfyas; Fa-pao, to certain masters of the Vibhdsd (TD 41, p. 508bl7).
184. Samghabhadra discusses this thesis (TD 29, p. 370b23 and folL).
185. Here and below (the definition of Bhadanta, p. 106), our Tibetan version translates nirantara by 'dab chags pa. But the Tibetan Siddhantas analyzed by Wassilief (p. 307) oppose the nirantara of the Bhadanta (bar medpa) to the nirantara of the other masters ('dab chags pa).
According to the Bodhicaiyavatara, p. 516, the organ and its object cannot be either separated (savyavadhdna, santara) or contiguous (nirantara).
186. Samghabhadra (TD 29, p. 371c7): What is the meaning of "to attain? " When an object arises in proximity to an organ, this latter grasps it. Thus one can say that smell, taste, and touch grasp the objects that they attain; in the same way one says that the organ of sight does not see eyelids, eye-lashes and the other visible matter that it attains. The eyelid does not touch the organ of sight: one says nevertheless that the organ attains it. From the fact that the eyelid arises in proximity to the organ, one says that this latter attains it. As the organ of sight does not see the visible matter thus attained, one says that the organ of sight grasps without attaining, not by attaining; moreover it does not grasp a very distant object. In this same way, even though smell grasps the object that it attains, it does not grasp what is very close.
187. Compare the Vimsaka of Vasubandhu, 12-14; Bodhicaiyavatara, p. 503; Prafastapdday p. 43, etc.
188. According to Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 683c24: Do the atoms touch one another? They do not touch one another; if they touch one another, they touch one another in either their totality or partially. If they touch one another in their totality, they form but one single thing; if they partially touch one another they would thus have parts. And atoms do not have parts.
How is it that agglomerations, striking against one another, do not fall to pieces? They do not fall to pieces because vdyudhdtu holds them together.
But does not vayudhdtu fall to pieces? Sometimes it falls to pieces, for example at the end of the cosmic period. Sometimes it holds together, for example at the beginning of the cosmic period.
? If atoms do not touch one another, how can striking produce sound? Sound is produced for this very reason. For, if the atoms were to touch one another, how could there be the production of sound? If atoms touch one another, the hand and the body that it strikes would mix with one another, and there would be not free space, and how could sound arise? Vasumitra says: "Atoms do not touch one another: if they touch one another, they would thus last for a second moment. " The Bhadanta says: There is no real contact; it is through acquiescense to popular truth that one say that there is contaa when atoms arise in a union without interval (nirantara).
Does the thing in contact arise having for its case a thing in contaa . . .
189. They should have arisen (first moment) in order to touch one another (second moment).
190. Vasubandhu believes that the Bhadanta understands "juxtaposition without interval" in the sense that atoms do not allow any intermediate space bewteen them. Samghabhadra is of a different opinion.
191. For Vasubandhu, atoms are immediately juxtaposed; nevertheless they do not mix one with another, for being impenetrable, they remain distinct in spite of their contiguity. See p. 70.
Here are the essentials of Samghadra's explanations.
Nyayanusara, (TD 29, p. 372bl2): The Bhadanta nevertheless says: "Atoms do not touch one another; but one says, by metaphor, that they touch one another, because they are juxtaposed without interval" (nirantara). The Sautrantika (that is, Vasubandhu), indicating that that is the best theory, says: "This doarine is the best; otherwise, the atoms would present some intermediate space (sdntara) between them; since' these intermediate spaces are empty, what would hinder the atoms from going (one towards the other)? One admits that they are impenetrable (sapratigha). " This theory of the Bhadanta can neither be approved nor aiticized; one should solely examine how there can be any absence of an intermediate space without there being contaa: since this is not explicit, this theory is difficult to understand. If one says that atoms absolutely are without any intermediate space between them, and yet are not mixed one with another, they must have parts: a false opinion. Otherwise, if nirantara signifies "without interval" (anantara), how is it that the atoms do not touch one another? Consequently, the word nirantara signifies "close. " The prefix nis signifies "certitude. " As there is certainly an interval, the atoms are nirantara, "possessing intervals:" the same way as nirdahati, "he burns. " Or rather the prefix nis signifies "absence. " The atoms are called "without interposition" (nirantara), because there is not any rupa of contaa (sprspa) of the dimension of a atom between them. When the atoms of the primary elements arise close to one another, without "interposition," they are said, by metaphor, to touch one another. We approve the understanding of the Bhadanta thusly . . .
192. Samghabhadra (TD 29, p. 372c5) reproduces this paragraph (The Sautrantika says: 'If you admit. . . ), and following: "This is not correa. 'To have parts' and 'to be spatially divided' are two expressions of the same idea. When one says that 'an atom does not have any parts,' one says in faa that it is foreign to all spatial division. How can you be in doubt with respea to this point and still say: 'If you admit spatial division . . . ? ' Since the atoms are foreign to this division, how can they touch one another? We have explained that contaa can only be total or partial; thus the atom, foreign to any spatial division, cannot enter into contaa. How can you thus say 'If you deny spatial division, there will be no difficulty in the atoms touching one another. ' Thus the atoms are called nirantara, 'not separated,' because there is not any rupa of contaa of the dimension of an atom between them. "
See ii. 22 and the Introduction.
193. According to Vibhdsa TD 27, p. 63cl2.
194. The first opinion is that of the Sarvastivadins.
195. mdldvad avasthita = mandalena samapanktydvasthita.
Footnotes 149
? 150 Chapter One
196. The text has kila. As a general rule, Vasubandhu uses the word kila when the opinion in question is a wrong opinion of the Vaibhasikas; but here the Vyakhya says: dgamasucandrthah kilasabdah.
197. According to Vibhdsd TD p. 369cl0 and foil.
198. Unconditioned things are eternal because they do not go from one time period to another time period (advasamcdrdbhavdta, v. 25). Asamskfta, nitya, dhruva, (iv. 9) and dravya (i. 38) are synonyms.
199- According to another reading (kecit pathanti): dharmdrdham . . . See Dhammasangani, 661.
200. The Vyakhya quotes the conversation of the Brahmin Jatisrona with the Blessed One: indriydmndriydni bho Gautama ucyante /kati bho Gautama indnydni /kryatd cendriyandm samgraho bhavati . . .
201. The order of the indriyas is justified ii. 6. We have the order of our Sutra in Vibhanga, p. 122, Kathdvatthu, trans, p. 16, Visuddhimaggay xvi; and also in the Indriyaskandhaka (TD 26, p. 991b24), sixth book of the Jndnaprasthana (Takakusu, "Abhidharma Literature," JPTS, 1905, p. 93).
The small treatise of Anuruddha (Compendium, p. 175) follows the same order as the Prakaranapdda.
The Mahavyutpatti (108) places the vital organ at the end.
202. The last three indriyas are made up of (1-3) three sense faculties; (4-8) the five moral faculties; and (9) the mental organ (ii. 4); 1-8 are dharmadhdtu.
? CHAPTER TWO
The Indriyas
v / m . Homage to the Buddha.
We have enumerated the organs or indriyas with regard to the
dhatus (i. 48). What is the meaning of the word indriya?
The root idi signifies paramaisvarya or supreme authority {Dha-
tupdfha, i. 64). Whatever exercises supreme power or authority is called x
an indriya. Thus, in general, indriya signifies adhipati or ruler.
What is the object of the predominating influence of each indriya? .
la. According to the School, five are predominate with regard to
2
things;
i. Each of the five indriyas of which the organ of sight is the first--the five organs of sense consciousness--is a predominating influence (1) with regard to the beauty of the person; (2) with regard to the protection of the person; (3) with regard to the production of a consciousness and the mental states associated with this consciousness; and (4) with regard to their special mode of activity (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 730a29).
The organs of seeing and hearing are predominating influences (1) with regard to beauty, for the body in which they are missing is not beautiful (i. 19); (2) with regard to proteaion, for by seeing and hearing, a person avoids that which would destroy him; (3) with regard to the production of the seeing and hearing consciousnesses, and of the mental states associated with them; and (4) with regard to their special activities, i. e. , seeing visible things and hearing sounds.
The organs of smell, taste, and sensation are predominating influences (1) with regard to beauty, as above; (2) with regard to protection, through the consumption of solid foods (kavadikarahara,
? 154 Chapter Two
iii. 39); (3) with regard to the production of their three conscious- nesses; and (4) with regard to their special aaivities, i. e. , perceiving smells, tasting tastes, and touching tangibles.
lb. Four predominate with regard to two things;
ii. Four indriyas, namely the two sexual organs, the vital organ, and the mental organ are each a predominating influence with regard to two things (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 731bl2; see also b23, b5).
1. The sexual organs are the predominating influence (1) with regard to the distribution of living beings: it is by reason of these two that living beings form the categories of male and female; and (2) with regard to the differentiation of living beings: by reason of these two organs, there are, among the sexes, differences of physical form, voice,
3 and manner of being.
4
Some other masters do not admit this explanation. In fact there
are sexual differences among the gods of Rupadhatu who, however, do not possess sexual organs (i. 30), and their distribution into sexes results from these differences. Thus, if the sexual organs are the predominating influences from two points of view, they are the predominating influences with regard to defilement and purification: in fact, the three types of eunuchs and bisexual beings are alien (1) to the dharmas of defilement, lack of discipline (iv. l3b), mortal transgression (iv. 103), the cutting off of the roots of good (iv. 80); and (2) to the dharmas of purification, discipline (iv. l3b), acquisition of the fruits (vi. 51), and detachment (vairagya, vi. 45c) (see ii. l9c-d).
2. The vital organ is the predominating influence (1) with regard to the "joining" of the nikayasabhaga (ii. 41a), i. e. , that which concerns the arising of an existing thing; and (2) with regard to "maintaining" this nikayasabhdga, i. e. , that which concerns the prolongation of an existing thing from its arising to its extinction.
3. The mental organ is predominate (1) with regard to rebirth, as the Sutra explains, "Then there is produced among the Gandharvas, beings in the intermediate existence, one or the other of two minds, a mind of desire or a mind of hatred . . . " (iii. 15); (2) with regard to domination: the world and the dharmas submit to the mind. As the
? stanza says: "The world is lead by the mind, conducted by the mind:
5
(all dharmas obey this one dharma, the mind. )"
iii. The five indriyas of sensation (i. e. , the five sensations of
pleasure, displeasure, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and indifference; ii. 7,) and the eight indriyas of faith, (force, memory, absorption and discernment (ii. 24) and the three pure faculties, ii. 10)
lc. Five and eight with regard to defilement and to purification.
are, respectively, predominant with regard to defilement and to purification.
The sensations are predominant with regard to defilement, for the defilements, lust, etc. , attach themselves to the sensations, and take shelter therein. Faith and the seven other faculties are predominant
6 with regard to purification, for it is by them that one obtains purity.
According to other masters (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 73b6), the
sensations are also predominant with regard to purification, so that the
Sutra says: "sukhitasya cittam samddhiyatej duhkhopanisacchraddha* 9
san naiskramydsritah saumanasyddhayah ("There are, by reason of visible things, etc. , six sensations of satisfaction, six sensations of dissatisfaction, six sensations of indifference, favorable to naiskramya") Such is the explanation of the Vaibhasikas.
10
[The Sautrantikas criticize this explanation:] (1) the sense
organs, the eyes, etc. , are not predominant with regard to the protection of the person. Here predominance belongs to the con- sciousnesses, visual consciousness, hearing consciousness, etc. ; and it is after having distinguished that one has avoided anything harmful that one takes solid food. (2) That which you understand as the "proper activity of the organ," namely the seeing of visible things, etc. , belongs to the consciousness (i. 42) and not to the organ. The explanations relative to the predominance of the other indriyas are equally incorrect.
How then should one understand the predominance of the
indriyas!
2a-b. By reason of their predominance (1) with regard to the perception of their special object, (2) with regard to all objects, six organs.
The Indriyas 155
? 156 Chapter Two
That is, by reason of their predominance through their affinity to the six consciousnesses. The five organs, the first of which is the organ of sight, are predominant through their affinity to the five sense consciousnesses, visual consciousness, etc. , each one of which distin- guishes its own object, visible things, etc. The mental organ is predominant with regard to the mental consciousness which dis- tinguishes all objects. It is in this way that the six sense organs are predominant.
But, we might say, the sense objects, visibles, etc. , are also predominant through their affinity to the consciousness, and as a consequence, should they not also be considered as indriyas?
They are not predominant merely by this. "Predominance" means "predominant power. " The eye is predominant, for (1) it exercises this predominance with regard to the arising of the consciousness that knows visible things, being the common cause of all consciousnesses of visible things, whereas each visible thing merely aids the arising of but one consciousness; (2) the visual consciousness is clear or obscure, active or well, accordingly as the eye is active or weak: now visible things do not exercise a similar influence. The same holds for the other sense organs and their objects (i. 45a-b).
2c-d. It is by reason of their predominance in masculinity and femininity that one must distinguish two sexual organs within the body.
There are two separate sexual organs within the kdyendriya, or the organ of touch. These two organs are not distinct from the kdyendriya: they too cognize tangible things. But there is a part of the kdyendriya that receives the name of male organ or female organ because this part
n
exercises predominance over masculinity or femininity.
the physical form, the voice, the hearing, and the dispositions proper to women. The same for masculinity. Since the differences of these two natures are due to these parts of the body, we know that these two parts are predominant through their two natures. Hence they consti- tute indriyas.
3. It is by reason of their predominance with regard to the
Femininity is
? duration of existence, to defilement, to purification, that one considers the vital organ, the sensations, and the five the first of which is faith, as indriyas.
1. The vital organ is predominant with regard to the prolongation of existence from birth to death, but not, [as the Vaibhasikas say,] with regard to the connection of one existence with another: this connection depends on the mind
2. The five sensations are predominant with regard to defilement,
12
for the Sutra says, "Lust finds its shelter in the sensation of pleasure;
hatred, in the sensation of displeasure; confusion, in the sensation of
13
indifference. " [On this point the Sautrantikas are in agreement with
the Vaibhasikas. ]
3. The five faculties,--faith, force, memory, absorption, and
discernment--are predominant with regard to purification, for,
through their power, the defilements are disturbed and the Path is
14 brought about.
4. By reason of their predominance with regard to ascending acquisitions, with regard to Nirvana, etc. , the andjndtamdjnds-
ydmindriya, the ajnendriya, and the ajndtdvindriya, are 15
likewise.
"Likewise," that is, these three are, likewise, considered as pre- dominating influences or indriyas. These are the three pure indriyas, which will be defined ii. lOa-b.
1. The first is predominant through the acquisition of the second. The second is predominant through the acquisition of the third. The third is predominant through the acquisition of Nirvana, or
nirupadhisesanirvdna. For there is no Parinirvana when the mind is 16
not delivered
2. The word "et cetera" indicates that there is another explanation: The first is predominant with regard to the extinctions of the
defilements which are abandoned through Seeing the Truths (v. 4). The second, with regard to the extinction of the defilements which
are abandoned through Meditation on the Truths (v. 5a).
The third, with regard to blessedness-in-this-life, that is, the
The Indriyas 157
? 158 Chapter Two
experience of the satisfaction (prtti = saumanasya) and the well-being (sukha = prasrabdhisukha, viii. 9b) that comes from deliverance from the defilements. (See below note 22).
#**
Why are there only twenty-two indriyas? If you regard a "pre-
dominating influence" as an indriya, ignorance and the other parts of
pratityasamutpada (iii. 21) would be indriyas\ for these causes (avidya,
etc. ) are predominant with regard to their effects (the samskdras, etc. ).
In the same way, the voic^, hands, feet, the anus, and the penis are
predominant with regard to words, grasping, walking {viharana- 17
cankramana), excretion, and pleasure.
We would answer that there is no reason to add ignorance, etc. , to
the list proclaimed by the Blessed One.
In enumerating the indriyas, the Blessed One took into account the
following characteristics:
5. The support of the mind; that which subdivides, prolongs, and defiles this support; that which prepares the purification
18 and which does purify it: these are all the indriyas,
1. The support of the mind consists of the six organs of
consciousness, from the organ of sight to the mental organ. These are
the six internal ayatanas (i. 39, iii. 22) which are the primary constitu- 19
ents of a living being.
2. This sixfold support is differentiated by reason of the sexual
organs.
3. It lasts for a time by reason of the vital organ.
4 It is defiled by reason of the five sensations.
5. Its purification is prepared by the five moral faculties, faith, etc. 6. It is purified by the three pure faculties.
The dharmas that possess the characteristic of being predominant
with regard to the constitution, the subdivision, etc. of a living being are considered to be indriyas. This characteristic is missing in other dharmas, in voice, etc.
? (Some other masters give a different definition:)
6. Or rather there are fourteen indriyas, support of transmigra- tion, origin, duration, enjoyment of this support; the other indriyas have the same function with regard to Nirvana.
The expression "or rather" introduces the explanation of other masters.
On the other hand:
(15-19) The five faculties,--faith, force, memory, absorption, discernment,--are the support of Nirvana.
(20) Nirvana is generated, appears for the first time, through the first pure faculty, andjndtamdjndsydmmdriya.
(21) Nirvana lasts, is developed, through the second pure faculty,
ajnendriya.
(22) Nirvana is "experienced" by the third pure faculty, djndtd-
vindriyay for, through this faculty, one experiences the satisfaction and well-being of deliverance (see above ii. 4).
This determines the number of indriyas, as well as the order in which the Sutra places them.
***
The voice, hands, feet, the anus, and the sexual parts are not
indriyas.
1. The voice is not predominant with respect to words, for words
22
suppose a certain instruction; 2-3. Hands and feet are not pre-
dominant with regard to grasping and walking, for grasping and walking are simply the hands and feet arising a second moment in another place and with a new figure (iv. 2b-d). On the other hand, we
(1-6) The six organs (sadayatana, iii. 22), from the organ of sight to 20
the mental organ, are the support, the raison d'etre of samsdra.
(7-8) It is through the sexual organs that the saddyatanas arise. (9) It is through the vital organ that the saddyatanas last.
(10-14) It is through the five sensations that the saddyatanas enjoy.
The Indriyas 159
21
? 160 Chapter Two
see that hands and feet are not indispensable for grasping and walking,
23
for example with snakes. 4. The anus is not predominant with
regard to the expulsion of matter, for heavy things always fall in a void; further, wind pushes this matter and makes it go out; 5. The sexual parts are not predominant with regard to pleasure for pleasure
24 is produced by the sexual organs.
If you consider the hands, the feet, etc. , as indriyas, you must then place the throat, the teeth, the eyelids, and the joints, whose function it is to swallow, to chew, to open and close, to fold up and to extend the bones, among the indriyas. In this way, everything that is a cause, which exercises its action (purusakara, ii. 58) with regard to its effects, would be an indriya. But we must reserve the name of indriya to whatever possesses predominance.
***
We have defined the organs of consciousness and the sexual organs (i. 9-44); the vital organ will be explained with the cittaviprayuktas (ii. 35) among which it is placed; the five faculties,--faith, force, etc. ,-- being mental states, will be explained with the mental states (ii. 24):
We shall examine here the organs of sensation and the pure faculties which are not found anywhere else.
25 7a-b. Disagreeable bodily sensation is the indriya of pain.
26
("Bodily" is "that which relates to the body," that which is
associated with the five sense consciousnesses, visual consciousness, etc. )"Disagreeable" is that which does harm. Sensation in relation to the five organs of sense consciousness, and which does harm, is called duhkhendriya.
7b-c. Agreeable is the indriya of pleasure.
"Agreeable" is that which does good, which comforts, is beneficent.
Agreeable bodily sensation is termed sukhendriya.
7c-d. In the Third Dhyana, agreeable mental sensation is also
? an indriya of pleasure.
(Mental sensation is the sensation associated with mental con- sciousness. ) Agreeable mental sensation of the Third Dhyana is also called sukhendriya, an indriya of pleasure. This name, moreover, is reserved for agreeable bodily sensation; but in the Third Dhyana, bodily sensation is absent because the five sense consciousnesses are not there. Then, when one speaks of the sukha or pleasure of the Third Dhyana, one means agreeable mental sensation (see vii. 9).
