The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana c8.30

c8.30

Among the constantly present elements, there are two exceedingly precious ones which, when given the proper opportunity of full development become predominant and change the character of the individual and his moral value altogether They are the faculty of appreciative analysis (*prajñā*) and the faculty of concentrating our thoughts upon the single point to the exclusion of all other disturbing considerations and occurrences, it is just *samādhi* or *yoga* These elements may be quite undeveloped and insignificant. *Prajñā* is then called *mati*, but it is the same faculty When fully developed it becomes transcendent wisdom (*prajñā amalā*) Life in ordinary men is controlled by ignorance (*avidyā*) which is the reverse of *prajñā*, but not its mere absence It is a separate element which can be and, in every ordinary man really is, present at the same time with his dormant faculty of wisdom But it is not a constant faculty; it can be suppressed (*prahīna*) and thrown out of the mental stream altogether which then becomes purified or saintly (*ārya*)