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TATTVASARGRAHA: CHAPTER XXVI.
TEXTS (3488-3494).
FROM THE REALISATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE 'SOUL-LESS-NESS OF
ALL THINGS' AS TAUGHT BY HIM, FOLLOWS THE CESSATION OF THE WHOLE MASS OF Afflictions DUE TO THE NOTION OF THINGS HAVING SUCH EXISTENCE. THIS NOTION OF THE REALITY OF THINGS APPEARS IN THE FORM OF 'SELF AND THINGS RELATED TO THE SELF'; IT IS ONLY WHEN THERE ARE NOTIONS OF 'I' AND 'MINE THAT THE WHOLE MASS OF Afflictions BECOMES OPERATIVE.THE SAID PERCEPTION OF 'SOUL-LESS-NESS' IS THE ENEMY OF THIS NOTION OF REALITY ; HENCE WHEN THE FORMER BECOMES DULY ABSORBED AND REALISED, THE LATTER DISAPPEARS; THEREFORE THE ENTIRE MASS OF Afflictions DUE TO THAT NOTION OF REALITY CEASES, ON ACCOUNT OF THE ABSENCE OF ITS CAUSE ; AND WHEN THAT CEASES, THERE IS NO MORE BIRTH DUE TO THAT. THUS THERE BEING ABSOLUTE LIBERATION FROM BIRTH, THIS STATE IS SPOKEN OF AS THE FINAL GOAL.'.-THUS THE PERCEPTION OF SOUL-LESS-NESS' IS THE DOOR TO UNRIVALLED 'Good'.- ALL OTHER PHILOSOPHERS HAVE HELD THAT LIBERATION FOLLOWS FROM THE CESSATION OF THE WI-NOTION', BUT IF THERE IS A 'SOUL', THIS 'I-NOTION CAN NEVER CEASE ; BECAUSE ITS EFFICIENT CAUSE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE; SO THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT NOTION TOO WOULD NOT BE ABROGATED. IF IT WERE ABROGATED, THERE WOULD BE NEGATION OF IT, WHICH WOULD MEAN A COMPLETE VOLTE-FACE ON THEIR PART.-(3488-3494)
COMMENTARY.
It is accepted by all that Liberation consists in the absolute cessation of the series of Births and Rebirths. But the only means of attaining this consists in the Teachings of the Blessed Lord; as it is only here and nowhere else,--that we have the 'teaching of the doctrine of no-Soul', which is the sole destroyer of 'Afflictions which are the source of Birth and Rebirth'; and all other Philosophers are wedded to the false doctrine of the 'Soul'. Thus it is the word of the Blessed Lord alone which, as being the means of attaining Prosperity and Highest Good, can be the indicator of Dharma; hence it is this alone that should be depended upon by all who seek their own welfare. Such is the purport of the whole text.
The meaning of the words is now explained:
Question "How do you know that the mass of Africtions arises from the notion of the real existence of things ?"
Answer :-The notion of the reality of things, etc. etc.'-This has been already explained by us before.
Question. - "If the mass of Africtions arises from the notion of the real existence of things, even so, how is it set aside by the perception of 'Soul-less-ness'?"
