Buddhist Philosophy in India and Ceylon c8.s1.2

c8.s1.2

To this temptation, often fatal to historical accuracy, Professor Franke has fallen a victim in his able and fascinating attempt¹ to prove that the early Buddhist view was, like that of the Mahāyāna, negativist, though his argument rather establishes, even taken on itsown claims, that the view was idealistic, with a tendency, not wholly conscious or articulate, to negativism. But the issue is vital, and there is the authority also of Kern² for the view that from the outset Buddhism was an idealistic nihilism; there is nothing internal nor external for him with true discernment, and a realization of non-existence is the means to secure a safe crossing of the tumult of life.