The History of Buddhist Thought c25.56

c25.56

But, says Nāgārjuna, "if everything is non-void (real in the popular sense), there is neither arising nor passing away. Of what is there Nirvāṇa either by abandonment or cessation?" The Hīnayānist replies, "if there is Nirvāṇa, there will indeed be no depravities or skandhas when Nirvāṇa is attained, hence their destruction will be Nirvāṇa." The reply as stated by the commentator is, "get rid of your false view (*grāha*). If things exist really, they cannot become non-existent. As Nāgārjuna says, 'The limit of Nirvāṇa is also the limit of *saṃsāra*; not the finest distinction is found between them.' It must be understood that there is no abandoning of anything through Nirvāṇa, nor the ceasing of anything. Hence Nirvāṇa is the destruction of all false imaginings, as has been said by the Lord: