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Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t18: The Kathāvatthu on Nirvāṇa

Aspects of Mahāyāna Buddhism and its Relation to Hīnayāna c7.s3.t18

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The Kathāvatthu on Nirvāṇa

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Before we deal with the *Visuddhimagga*, we may well examine the few remarks scattered here and there in the *Kathāvatthu* regarding the conception of Nibbāna.¹ While discussing the existence of puggala, the *Kathāvatthu* makes a remark showing that it conceives Nibbāna as a real and eternal state. It says that if puggala (soul) be taken as not disintegrating with the disintegration of khandhas, this will entail sassatavāda, for the soul becomes eternally existent like Nibbāna.² Buddhaghosa in commenting upon this says: Yathā hi nibbānaṃ na uppajjati na bhijjāti evaṃ hi puggalo³ (just as Nibbāna does neither originate nor decay so would be the soul). Thus we see that the *Kathāvatthu*, supported by Buddhaghosa, takes Nibbāna as an eternal state without origination and decay, and does not consider a parinibbuta puggala as sassata.⁴ In other connections too, the *Kathāvatthu* remarks that Nibbāna is eternal and unchangeable (nibbānaṃ dhuvam sassataṃ avipariṇāmadhammam).⁵ It also says that Nibbāna unlike ñāṇa (knowledge) exists by itself like rūpa or cakkhu and does not require any ārammaṇa (basis) to arise.⁶ Unlike sīla (morality), phassa (contact) and vedanā (feeling), it is acetasika (not a property of the mind)¹ and is unconnected with mind (citta-vippayutta).² It is asaṅkhata (unconstituted)³ because it possesses the three signs, *viz.*, no origination (uppāda), no destruction (vayo) and no change (na ṭhitānam aññathattam paññāyati).⁴ The *Kathāvatthu* thus conceives Nibbāṇa as existing eternally without origin, decay and change, and is beyond all description.

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¹ Though according to the orthodox tradition, it is canonical it may also be treated as non-canonical as it was composed after the canon had been closed. For the present purpose, we leave out of account the various aspects (guṇa or ākāra) of Nibbāna. It has been dealt with by Prof. Poussin in his *Nirvāna*, pp. 158 ff.

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² *Kvu.*, I. i. 170 (p. 34): Khandhesu bhijjamānesu no ce bhijjāti puggalo, puggalo sassato hoti nibbāna-samasamo.

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³ *Kvu. A.*, p. 25.

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⁴ *Kvu.*, p. 61.

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⁵ *Kvu.* I. 6 (p. 121); see also the note of the commentator in the *Points of the Controversy*, p. 63 fn.

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⁶ *Kvu.*, IX. 5; cf. *Dh. S.* 1408, 1415, 1418: Rūpañ ca nibbānañ ca anārammaṇā.

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¹ *Kvu*, IX. 7; cf. *Dh. S.* 1513: Katame dhammā acetasikā? Cittañ ca rūpañ ca nibbānañ ca.

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² *Ibid.* XIV. 6; cf. *Dh. S.* 1515: Katame dhammā cittavippayuttā? Rūpañ ca nibbānañ ca......

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³ *Dh. S.* 1439.

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⁴ *Ibid.*, p. 60. cf. *Dh. S.* 1416: Nibbānam na vattabbam uppannan ti anuppannan ti; see also 1534, 1535.

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