The University of Nalanda c15.31

c15.31

Rising thus higher and higher from one post of honour to another, the pilgrim reached the pinnacle of glory, when he defeated the heretic of the Shun-si (Lokāyata) sect, who came to debate with the monks of Nālandā. In this debate, Hiuen Tsiang not only showed complete mastery over the various schools of Buddhism, but a unique knowledge of the philosophical systems of others, viz., the Bhūtas, Nirgranthas, the Kāpālikas, and the Jutikas, the Sāmkhyas and the Vaiśeṣikas. We shall only refer to his refutation of the Sāmkhya system, it being the most important of the group.