Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Conception of Nirvana
Individuality vanishes in it. For him, there is no difference beta een things and things, Noumena and Phenomena, nirrana and sansöra. It is sameness of all elements, i.e., dharmasamata.3 0 It is unity with all universe. This is a state of unlimited happiness. 81 No doşås will affect him who has realised this state of samara. This idea is similar to Vedāntic thought. Upanişads state that there is no aversion and grief for one who sees oneness everywhere.82 It also states that he who sees everything in him and himself in everything will not shrink from anything. He becomes one with universality of consciousness. He sees no duality.83
Pure consciousness is the sole Reality for Asanga. This absolute reality is called by different terms as Nirvana, dharmadhâtu, visuddha Tathara Tativa, Parābodhi, Buddhattra etc. So Nirvà na is beyond all thought discrimination. Thought discrimination implies duality. Duality is ignorance and it is unreal. But Reality is free from subjec-object duality. It is non-dual, i.e. in it there is no room for subject-object, positive or negative. It is indescribable and indefinable. 3. It is beyond categories of intellect. Therefore, this Buddhativa or Nirvana cannot be said to be existence or nonexistence at the ultimate point of view.88 This nirvāna is unfathomable, unimaginable and all pervading. 86 By its very nature it is solf-luminous. 87 Purification of consciousness lies in removing the impurities which are foreign to it. It is like purification of dirty water, removing mud or dirtyness which is foreign to it.38 Nirvang is destruction of imaginary thoughts. It is peaceful, Peaceful because the realised person will not be affected by any impurity, attachment and aversion. His mind will be stable, His mind will not be disturbed by land 'mine' considerations. Reaching the state of samatā he will enjoy perfect peace. nirvana is only paramärthasatya and it is parinişpannalakşaņa,9 It is opposed to samvrti satya. It is destruction of projection. Therefore, it is called nirvslisukha ( unlimited
29. Sarrasatveșu labhate sadātma samacittatam, MSA. XIV-30. 30, Nirvane saisararepyekarasosan, MSA, II-3. 31. Niryptisukham. MSA. V-8. 32, Tatra ko mohah, ka sokak ekatyamanupaśyatan. I'savasya Upanişad. 7 33. Isa. Up 6. 34, MSA. IXI-13. 35. MSA. IX-24. 36. Aprame yam acint yam ca vibhutvam bauddhamis yate. MSA. IX-40. 37. Matam ca cittam prakrtiprabhāsvaram sadā tadägantuka dosadūsitam. MSA, XIII-19. 38. Yathaiva toye luțhite prasādite na jayate sa punaracchatänyatan : Malapak arsasta
satatra kevalaḥ svacittasuddhau vidhireşa eva hi. MSA, XIII-18. 39. Vikalpopasamarthaḥ śāntarthak parinişpannalaksanam nirvanam. MSA. XVIII-81 Com.