Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c35.s2.1

v2.c35.s2.1

We have already pointed out that there were two schools of Mahīśāsakas, one earlier and the other later. The views stated above were held by the earlier. The later Mahīśāsakas accepted the cardinal doctrine of the Sarvāstivādins that past and future exist, and asserted that *skandhas*, *dhātus* and *āyatanas* in their subtlest form are always present, so also are the *anuśayas*. They added that the earth lasts for aeons. They agree with the Sarvāstivādins in holding that there is *antarābhava*. The later Mahīśāsakas, therefore, were as much in agreement with the Sarvāstivādins as the earlier Mahīśāsakas were with the Theravādins.