Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t20.12

c7.s3.t20.12

(1) Then as against the view of the Sautrāntikas that Nirvāṇa is simply non-production (anutpāda) of dharmas, the Sarvāstivādins cite a sūtra from the *Samyukta Āgama* (26.2) in which it is stated that the practice and culture of the five faculties, faith etc., have for their result the abandonment of duḥkha, past, present, and future. In fact, this abandonment (prahāṇa) refers to nothing else than Nirvāṇa and is solely of a future dharma and not of a past or present dharma. The Sautrāntikas cannot accept it and interpret this passage somewhat differently, saying that the "abandonment" refers to the abandoning of passions (kleśas) relating to duḥkha, past or present, and citing some other passages from the *Samyukta Āgama* in support of their contention. They argue that the passions, past and present, produce in us some germs to originate future passions: when these germs are killed, the passions, past and present, are abandoned. It is with reference to this fact that one says that the action (karma) and the result (phala) have been destroyed. Therefore by the abandonment of a future duḥkha or future passion one understands that the duḥkha or passion will not be born any more owing to the absence of germs.