Tattva Sangraha Vol 1

Author(s): Kamlashila, Ganganatha Jha
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 49

TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER 1.
This is the declaration-'O high-minded one, all Things are un produced, as neither the Existent nor the Non-existent is ever produced."
The answer to this is provided by the following: -
TEXT (32).
IN REALITY, THE PRODUCTION (OF A THING) CONSISTS IN ITS becoming a thing ; THIS PRODUCTION CANNOT BE RELATED TO WHAT IS existent,
OR WITH WHAT IS non-existent ; IT IS RELATED ONLY TO A CONCEPTUAL IDEA WHICH IS PURELY NON
EXISTENT-(32)
COMMENTARY
The particle 'tu(in reality) serves to emphasise what is going to be said.-When we come to examine in what manner e particular thing may be distinguished from other things, we find that what is called the production (appearance, coming into existence, of a Thing) is only its own Essence, becoming itself, which exists merely for a moment, free from all connection with all elements of the Past and the Future. It is not a Universale with particular features, as assumed by the Vaibhäşika; such a Universal' is going to be refuted (under Chapter 13). Nor does it consist in inherence in Being' or 'inherence in its own Cause', as postulated by the Vaishēsika ; as both these also are going to be refuted under Chapter 13); and because, under the theory of the other party (the Vaishēsika), both these (Inherences) are constant, and what is already constant cannot be produced. To this effect there is the following declaration :- Being (Existence) consists in being in contact with the Cause; the Cause is a cause by virtue of producing tho Effect; the Being and the Contact both being constant, what is there that could be produced ?
This—the said Production cannot be related to thot is non-existent, by the relation of co-essentiality (being of the same essence); as * existent and non-existent' are mutually contradictory, what is nonexistent cannot come about. Nor can the production be related to what is existent already from before; because before Production, the existent cannot be there.
Question-" Then how is it that you (Buddhists) are upholders of the doctrine that the Effect is non-existent!"
Answer-Only to a conceptual idea, etc. ;-it is only to a conceptual idea, which is of the nature of either the Active Agent or the Instrument,(Cause)-it is led into relationship. As a matter of fact, there is nothing called non-existent which could enter into 'production: the idea therefore that the non-existent is prodaced' is purely conceptual.—(32)
Question_"What is the basis of this conception on which the said Idea is supposed to rest ?"
The answer is supplied by the following: