A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t4.125

v2.c19.s6.t4.125

The great philosophers of the Mahāyāna, Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu and Asaṅga, wrote bulky commentaries on the Prajñā-Pāramitās, which have, however, only come down to us in the Chinese Tripiṭaka and in the Tibetan Tanjur. Nevertheless it is very difficult for us to imagine that the immense sanctity which is attributed to these texts, can really be due to a valuation and an understanding of the metaphysical doctrines which they propound. It is more probable that it is precisely the dark and incomprehensible element in the doctrines taught by these texts, which has contributed to make them sacred. *Omne obscurum pro magnifico.*¹