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INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
'Tathāgata free from form and name the pure citta-continuum which is free from personality and hence has no name-label that is invariably associated with the personality. Thus the words of Buddha mean: On the death of the Tathāgata, the citta-continuum becomes free from personality and also from the name associated with the personality because the personality is extinct. The personality has become extinct because its roots viz. five personality factors are cut off. The cittacontinuum is not annihilated with the annihilation of the personality. It continues to exist in its pure state. This pure citta-continuum is like a deep ocean.
As there is no personality in the pure citta-continuum that continues to exist after the death of Tathāgata, it is not possible to differentiate it from another pure citta-continuum, and hence there is impossiblity of designating it by the name. Names are given to personalities and not to pure citta-continuums which lack differentiating and distinguishing traits. Thus this passage undoubtedly proves that in nirvāṇa pure citta-continuum does exist but has no personality that can differentiate it from another pure citta-continuum. Personality (pudgala) is annihilated on the cessation of personalty factors (skandhas), just as fire-form is annihitated on the consumption of fuel. The citta-continuum without personality continues to exist even after the annihilation of personality just as rūpaparamānus (rather rūpaparamānu-continuums) without fireform continue to exist even after the extinction of fireform. This is clearly accepted by Buddha when he declares: “Tathāgata (after death) is deep like an ocean." Analogy of deep ocean is revealing. A deep ocean is calm, free from waves and agitation (kşobha). Similarly, the citta-continuum that attains nirvāņa becomes 'calm' i.e. free from agitations. Skandhas can easily be regarded as the agitating waves of citta-ocean. In nirvāņa they are completely niruddha (destroyed)26. Thus the analogy of deep ocean suggests not only cessation of personality factors entailing extinction of personality but also existence of citta-continuum free from personality factors and hence from personality also.
When the fuel is consumed the fireform is extinguished. Similarly, when the five personality factors (of Tathāgata Gotama) cease to exist the form or the personality which we recognise by the name Tathāgata Gotama become extinct, it does not exist. But if we say, 'Tathāgata Gotama is extinct', there is a danger of our giving rise to the
