The History of Buddhist Thought c18.61

c18.61

One of Dr. Schrader’s conclusions is that “it is beyond doubt that in Buddha’s opinion there rests of the *parinibbuto* (one who has attained Nirvāṇa) not the slightest shade of individuality”. It need hardly be said that this is only Dr. Schrader’s “way of thinking”, but it does involve a question more than once touched upon by the commentators. Already in the Upanishads it was a problem whether the liberated ātman knew that it was liberated. Indra was told that when one is asleep, composed, and knows no dream, that is the ātman. With this answer he was dissatisfied, for “such a one does not know with the thought, ‘I am he,’