Alamban Pariksha

Author(s): Dinnaga, Dharmapala, N Aiyaswami Shastri
Publisher: Adyar Library

Page 67

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
43
object? (ālambana) of the consciousness; because that alone is spoken of [in the S'āstra] as the productive cause of consciousness. But the aggregates of atoms are not so (i.e. do not give rise to consciousness) ;
26. 10 Because they do not exist in substance just like the double moon ".
The double moon is perceived [by a man] on account of defects of his sense-organs. But [this perception is not produced by the double moon, as] there exists no object like the double moon. Similarly the aggregates of atoms do not exist in substance and cannot act as causes of consciousness. Hence they are not its actual objects.
: 2c-d. Thus both the external things are unfit to be real objects of consciousness.
this (aggregate] be the perceivable object (ālambana)? The author replies the following.
When consciousness occurs according to the form of the object and this object produces consciousness, this object (artha) is capable of being the perceivable object (alambana).
The following is reply to the question: Why is that which produces (consciousness) only the perceivable object ?
The Sāstra explains further that this object (artha) which is the cause (hetu) of the production of the mind and mental things (cittacaitta) and which gives the designations (vyavahāra) to this object (artha) when the mind and mental things have been produced, is (precisely) the perceivable object (ālambana).
10 This is reply to the question: Why is not the aggregate what produces (the representation ?
"For example, since a second moon does not exist in substance (dravyatas), it is not capable of being the object (bhāva) of the cause of the perception (jñāna) which appears as if it is a second moon: in the same way the aggregate is no longer the cause of the perception which appears as if it is (the aggregate] itself.