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5. 40-41] The Nature of Attributes and Results
145 Several states like time have been mentioned in the earlier period; however, unlike substances such as the dharmastikaya, the notion of substance has not been established in them. Therefore, the question arises: does the lack of such an establishment imply that time is not a substance? Or does the description of states like time result in its inclusion in the count of substance? The answers to these questions are provided here.
The author states that some teachers consider time to be a substance. The implication of the author’s statement appears to be that the independent nature of time as a substance is not universally accepted. The author has not refuted the view of those teachers who regard time as an independent substance; he has merely mentioned it. Here, the author indicates that time possesses infinite states. The descriptions of states like time have already been made. The states of time are indeed part of time itself. The present state of time is singular, whereas the states of the past and future are infinite. Consequently, time is referred to as having infinite periods.
The Nature of Attributes
Attributes that are devoid of substance are those that remain eternally within the substance. Since the characteristics of substance include the mention of attributes, their nature is being explained here.
States are also dependent on substance and are attribute-less, yet due to being capable of production and destruction, they eternally exist within the substance. In contrast, attributes are always dependent on the substance due to their eternal nature. This signifies the difference between attributes and states.
The powers that remain perpetually within a substance are the attributes, which are regarded as the progenitors of states. Accepting the distinction between attributes or capabilities creates confusion; therefore, attributes that are fundamentally powerful in nature are considered to be beyond attributes. The attributes of the soul include consciousness, right belief, conduct, bliss, vitality, etc., while the attributes of matter consist of form, taste, smell, and touch.
The Nature of Results
The occurrence of results is defined as being produced and destroyed while remaining situated in their nature.