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CHAPTER IV.
The Doctrine of the Thing by Itself.
COMMENTARY
The opening verses of the Text have spoken of other entities', which includes the doctrine of those philosophers who hold that the origination of the world is due to its own nature' (or constitution); this is the doctrine that is taken up now for refutation, even out of ita proper sequence, because there is little to be said regarding it,-by the following Text:
TEXT (110).
THE PROPOUNDERS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE THING BY ITSELF DESCRIBE THE ORIGINATION OF THINGS AS BEING INDEPENDENT OF ALL CAUSES. THEY DO NOT DECLARE EVEN THE
THING ITSELF TO BE ITS OWN Cause':-(110)
COMMENTARY
Though the Doctrine of the Thing by Itself' has nowhere been directly promulgated in so many words, yet it is implied by the doctrine that the Things are produced by themselves (as detailed in Texts 106 et seq.), Those who assert that things are born out of themselves have been silenced by the words (in Text 107)- The operation of a thing upon itself is a contradiction in terms;now the upholders of the doctrine of the Thing by Itself' are going to be silenced.
These philosophers &ssert as follows:-“The origination of things does not proceed either from themselves or from any other thing; in fact, it is indepen. dent of all Causes, i.e. it does not depend on the action of any 'Cause' at all."
Question- What is the difference between these people and those who ascribe the origination of things to themselves!”
Anstoer-They do not, etc. They'-i.e. the upholders of the Thing by Itzelf' ;-the thing itself,i.e, its own form (prior to origination);* even - this implies that they do not accept the form of any other thing to be the Cause'; the difference thus is that while the previous people hold the nature of the thing itself to be its 'Cause', these other people do not accept even that as the Cause':-(110)
These people put forward the following reason in support of their view :"When a thing which fulfils the conditions of perceptibility has its existence not perceived, it should be regarded by intelligent persons as non-existent, as the 'Hare's Horns' any Cause of things is something whose existence