Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c35.s3.t5.3

v2.c35.s3.t5.3

The principal point of difference between the two schools is that the Sarvāstivādins maintain the existence of 5 *dharmas* in their subtlest forms at all times, whether in the past, present or future, while the Theravādins deny any such existence. The former accept the fundamental creeds of Buddhism, *viz.*, *anatta* and *anicca* of all worldly things, and their contention is that the things constituted out of the *dharmas* at a particular time are subject to disintegration but not the *dharmas* themselves, which always exist in their subtlest state. *Vedanā*, for instance, may be *kuśala*, *akuśala* or *avyākr̥ta* at a particular time and place but it exists at all times.¹