Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t27.3

c7.s3.t27.3

Every being is a conglomeration of elements, which can be classified under the five heads, rūpa, vedanā, saññā, saṅkhārā and viññāṇa; hence one being is not essentially different from another, an ordinary man is not different from a perfected saint. But if the nature and proportion of each of the five constituents existing in an individual be taken into account, then one being is different from another, an ordinary man is different from a perfected saint. It is in this way that the Buddhist saying ‘n’eva so na ca añño’ (neither the same nor different) is explained.