Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c34.s3.21

v2.c34.s3.21

Another statement of Vasumitra relating to the Arhats, namely, "one who is kṛtakṛtyaḥ (= Pāli: katakaraṇīyo) does not take any dharma to himself i.e. has no attachment for worldly things" is echoed, I think, in the *Kvu.* (XVII, 1 & XXII. 2) in these terms: *atthi arahato puññopacayo ti?* and *arahā kusalacitto parinibbāyati ti*. The Theravādins agreeing with the Mahāsanghikas contend that the citta of Arhats goes beyond *pāpa* and *puṇya*, *kusala* and *akusala*, *kriyā* and *vipāka*, hence, to speak of them as acquiring merits or demerits is absurd. The opponents, the Andhakas, however, contend that the Arhats perform many good deeds, e.g., making gifts, worshipping caityas and so forth, and remain always self-possessed (*sato sampajāno*) even at the time of his parinibbāna, and so he does collect merits and passes away with *kusalacitta*.