Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 285

Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 6
Epistemologically, the Tathāgata is related to the absolute because the Tathāgata possesses four kinds of knowledge which makes him Omniscient and as such he ralates himself with the Absolute.
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Thus, the question whether the Tathāgata in relation to Absolute has any philosophical relevance in Yogācāra can be summed up in the affirmative. It is a fact that the Tathāgata having personality of its own cannot be regarded as the Absolute itself but the way in which the Śunyavera and the Yogacara scholars of Buddhism have painted is the nature of Tathāgata. It clearly reveals that the Tathāgata is related to the Absolute in some form or other. This is why, Tathāgata is often equated with Absolute in both the Mahayana systems of Buddhism. The Sanyavärins have painted the mediatory role of the Tathāgata by forwarding some convincing arguments. The Yogacara has also felt the epistemological necessity of the Tathāgata. And, at least, both the systems have metaphysically established, of course, with the help of Trikāya, that the Tathāgata is related to Absolute. So in our opinion, it will not be an exaggeration to accept the philosophical significance of the word "Tathāgata' in close relation to Absolute in the philosophy of Śünyavāda and Yogacara.