________________ 7. Sarvastivada 123 causes capable of producing an effect, which we metaphorically call an actor (kartni). The Dipakara's reply to this objection is that the Sautrantika cannot defend even the existence of causes or their capacity to produce an effect. According to the Sautrantika, a destruction is inherent in every dharma. Consequently, a dharma can be neither born, nor subsist, nor produce an effect. How does he then account either for a cause or for an effect ? A causal relation is possible only between two existing dharmas (like past and present and future) and not between two unreals or between a real and an unreal. This discussion on the reality of pratyayas (causes) brings the Dipakara to a criticism of the Vaitulika, also called vainasika (annihilationist) on account of his rejection of the reality of not only the past and future but also of the present dharmas. It is his contention that a samsklita dharma, being a result of pratyayas is devoid of an inherent nature, and, therefore, of a reality. Such a dharma cannot subsist either wholly or in parts in its causes, nor can it subsist anywhere else. That which is not found to subsist anywhere is devoid of its own nature. All dharmas, therefore, are illusory and empty like a circle of fire (alata-chakra). 4 The Vaitulika view given above is identical with the sunyavada of the Madhyamika. The arguments of the Vaitulika correspond to Nagarjuna's polemic against the reality of pratyayas and samsklita dharmas as contained in his Madhyamikakarikas. This is further confirmed by the Dipakara's description of the Vaitulika as a vainasika (annihilationist) and ayogasunyata-vadin. The term ayoga-sunyata is not found in the traditional lists of 18, 19 or 20 kinds of sunyatas, or in the Madhyamika 1 Ibid. 2 Adv. p. 276. 3 Vaitulikasyayoga-sunyat a-vadinah servam nastiti. Adv. p. 257. 4 Adv. p. 276. 5 See Pratyaya-pariksha, Samsksita-pariksha and Kala-pariksha, See The Central Philosophy of Buddhism, pp. 166ff. 6 See The Central Philosophy of Buddhism, Appendix.
