Transactions of the second session held at London, in September, 1874 / edited by R.K. Douglas.

  • International Congress of Orientalists
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Transactions of the second session held at London, in September, 1874 / edited by R.K. Douglas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    166/514 (page 156)
    TURANIAN SECTION. (15) If the opposite of “Being” and “Not Being” Is Nirvana, These opposites— How are they distinguished ? (16) If they are distinguished, And so, by union, become Nirvana, Then that which completes the idea of “Being” and “Not Being,” Also completes the idea of the opposite of both. (17) Tathagata, after his departure, Says nothing of “Being” and “Not Being” ; He says not that his “Being” is not, or the opposite of this. Tathagata says nothing of these things or their opposites. “ The question of Nirvana sums itself up in this, that whether past, or present, or to come, it is one and the same condition of non- sensational existence. Tathagata is ever the same; if he be removed, then Nirvana itself becomes a mere fancy. “ The conclusion of the whole matter is, that Nirvana is identical with the nature of Tathagata, without bound, and without place or time.” From tliis Section of the Tchong-lun we can understand the character of the entire work. It advocates the theory that the true condition of Being (Nirvana), or the nature of Tathagata, is to be found in the conciliation of differences. Neither Eternal, or non-Etemal, personal, or impersonal—but above and beyond all such verbal limitations. Fo-shwo-chcn-tseu-hng. For []fi vid. 128 Jul. Meth., as in Kauqa/nbi. Compare Fa-hiancap. xxxviii. []£, |||. It is evident this is the Sama Jataka. Sama is said (E.M. 275) to have been the son of the hermit Dukhula. In the Itamayana he is called. Scrwan. Talbogs Wheeler, vol. ii. p. 159, n. The incident is illustrated in the Sanchi Sculptures. Tree and Serpent Worship, pi. xxxvi.