Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t20.18

c7.s3.t20.18

(5) The fifth argument of the Sarvāstivādins relates to the nature of the consequence found by the Sautrāntikas in the maintenance of their theory that the unconditioned really exist. The Sautrāntikas point out the unreasonableness of regarding the existence of a non-existent thing as real. In fact, they say that the unconditioned can neither be apprehended by the senses (pratykṣa) like rūpa (form), vedanā (feeling), etc., nor can they be known by inference (anumāna) from their activities, i.e., through the organs of sense.