________________ 116 Introduction moksha-bijam aham hy asya susukshmam upalakshayel dhatu-pashana-vivare nilinam iva kanchanam// (I see his extremely subtle seed of salvation like a seam of gold hidden in metal-bearing rock.) The use of the term moksha-bija and of the simile of hidden gold are of great significance. The simile of gold aptly describes an incorruptible element. The moksha-bija thus described as extremely subtle (susukshma) and incorruptible seems to be identical with the sukshma-kusala-dharma-bija propounded by the Kosakara. Even the word dhatu used in the above verse is significant. This word also occurs in the term nana-dhatujnana-bala (Pali aneka-dhatu-nana-dhatu-lokam pajanati) where it is understood as vasana, asaya or gotra." The sarvakara-jnata of the Buddha consists in knowing the gotra of all beings. The doctrine of gotra forms the starting point of Mahayana. It determines the family of a person as belonging to the comm. unity of a sravaka, pratyeka-buddha or a Buddha. Yosomitra describes this gotra as bija, 8 which could only be the mokshabija concealed in the midst of other dhatus or bijas such as of akusala and of Sasrava kusala. The theory of an innate, indestructible and pure (anas. rava) element existing in the midst of destructible, phenomenal and impure elements shows an affinity with Mahayana doctrine of prakriti-prabhasvara-chitta, according to which mind is essentially and originally pure but becomes impure by only adventitious afflictions. This praksiti-prabhasvara-caitta is further 1. Saku. P. 644. Vide Adv. p. 388, n. 2. See LVP Ak. II, 30cd; Sutra. lankara d' Asvaghosha (Huber's translation), p. 283. This story occurs in the Mahavagga, (Vinaya, I, p. 55) and the Dhammapada A. VI. 1 (Radhattheravatthu). In the Pali versions, however, Sari. putta ordains this person after recalling his charity of offering a spoonful of alms. 2. Vide Adv. p. 385. See Msa. I. 18. 3. Sautrantikah punar varnayanti-bljam sa marthym chetaso gotram iti. Saku. pp. 583-4. See The Bodhisattva Doctrine, pp. 51ff, AMBRH. pp. 84-7. See BHSD. p. 216.
