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EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF TRAIKĀLYA'.
881
TEXT (1842).
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PAST AND FUTURE THINGS ARE HELD TO BE WITHOUT THE capacity for effective action,-THEN, ON THAT GROUND ALONE, THEY WOULD BE non-existent,-LIKE
THE SKY-FLOWER'.-(1842)
COMMENTARY.
If then the second alternative view (proposed under Text 1835) is accepted that the Past and Future things are devoid of capacity for effective action, - then, in that case, for that very reason, -of being devoid of capacity for effective activity,—they would have to be regarded as 'non-existent', like 'sky-flowers'; as the only, characteristic of 'non-existence' consists in the absence of all capacity.-(1842)
Having thus adduced arguments in favour of the view that the Past and the 'Future' do not exist, the author proceeds to refute the arguments that have been put forward in support of the view that they do exist :
TEXT (1843).
AS REGARDS THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDUCED, THEY MUST RESIDE IN THINGS; AND UNTIL THESE THINGS ARE ESTABLISHED, THE REASONS CANNOT BE ADMITTED. OR ELSE, ON ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT ' CHARACTER BEING ESTABLISHED, THE SAID REASONS ARE CONTRADICTORY, ---AS GOING AGAINST THE NATURE
OF THE SUBJECT.-(1843)
COMMENTARY.
The Reasons' meant here are those adduced by the other party, under the Text 1790; these are "Inadmissible in regard to their substratum'; because the things in which they are said to reside are the Past and Future things, and it has been shown that these do not exist; as has been saidif the thing is not there, its property cannot be there'.
Even if the said things existed, as they have been proved to have the * Present' character, the Reasons in question would be proving something contrary to the very nature of the Subject; and as such, they would be Oontradictory':-(1843)
Question: "If that is so, then how is it that Buddhist writers have declared the Past and Future Forms, etc. to be included among the states'? The Past and Future character of non-entities like the Hare's Horns is never tried to be determined".
Answer: