ABHISAMAYALAMKARA

130 ANALYSIS OF
Absolute as being) all-pervading. 1 (Every kind of limitation as
*'eastern,*' *'western," and the like is consequently inadmissible
from the standpoint of the Ultimate Reality).—
[Abhis. aloka, MS. 71a. 3-5.]
[Tg. MDO. VI. 6%. 7.] phyogs bcu-po ni phyogs-
* fyis stoh-pa-nid \in-pahi-phyir chen-po-stoh-pa-hid-de. dernams-ni
dbyibs che-bm yin-pahi-phyir-ro. hdi-ni kun-tu-hgrobahi
don-gyis sa dah-po-laho. 2
VI. The Relativity of the Ultimate
Reality. The latter, that is Nirvana, is devoid of the
essence of Nirvana (as of a separate entity), 3 inasmuch as it
represents the mere separation (from the phenomenal elements). 4
The cognition of this aspect is associated with the second
Stage. In the latter we have the cognition of the Absolute as
being (Nirvana) the highest aim 5 that is to be attained. (This
highest aim is cognized as having itself a relative character. 6
[Abhis. aloka, MS. 71 a. 5-7.]
[Tg. MDO. VI. 69b. 7—70a. I] don-dam-pa m\ahan-las-hdas-pa-ni
m\a-han~las-hdas~pahi don-gyi rah-bzingyis
stoh-pa-nid yin-pahi-phyir don-dam-pa-stoh-pa-hid-de.
de~ni hbral-ba-tsam yin-pahi-phyir ro. hdi-ni mchog-gi donnid-kyis-na
sa ghis-pa-laho. 7
1 Madhyanta-vibhanga (Aga Ed.) 4a. 3, Mahayina-samgraha,
Tg. MDO., LVI. 34b. 4, "Doctrine of Pr.-pgr." p. 53.
2 Fane. I. 214a. 3-5.—de-la chen-po-ston pa-nid gan ze-na. miitag
mi-hjig-pahi-phyir sar-phyogs sar-phyogs-gis ston de cihiphyir
ze-na* dehi tan-bzin de yin-pahi-phyir-te. hdi-ni chen~po-ston~pa~
nid ces-byaho.—Of what kind is the Great Relativity Being neither
eternal, nor evanescent, the eastern quarter is devoid
of a real essence of its own, etc. (Similar indications
in regard to all the other points of the horizon). Why that etc.
3 CL "Conception of Buddhist Nirvana," p. 27.
4 Abhidharmakosa, 1. 6.
5 parama-artha. Cf. Abh. kosa-bhasya on I. 2.-—Madh. vibh. 4a.
3. Mah. samgr. 34b. 4, "Doctrine of Pr. par." p. 54.
6 Gser. I. 299b. 6—mya-nan-Ias-hdas-pa mchog %ari ston-par
rtogs-pas so,—Although Nirvana is the highest (aim), it is cognize* as
being relative.
7 Pane. I. 2I4a. 5-6—de-la, don-dam-pa-ni tnya-nan-las-hdas'
pa ste. mi Hag mi-hjig-pahi-phyir myanan-las-hdas-pa de-yah mya-
THE ABHISAMAYALAMKARA 13!
VII. The Relativity of conditioned
existence. The 3 Spheres of Existence which are a
product of causes and conditions (are relative, inasmuch as the
World of Carnal Desire (or of Gross Bodies) etc., are devoid of a
separate essence of their own. And, as they have no absolute
existence, they are correlative and are possible antidotes of
one another. The cognition of this aspect is associated with the
third Stage. In the latter we have the cognition of the Absolute
as being the homogeneous cause (of Phenomenal Existence).
The latter, as the natural outflow of the Absolute, is cognized
as being relative. 1
[Abhis. aloka, MS. 71a. 7-10.]
[Tg. MDO. VI. 70a. 1-2.] hdm-b$as~pa kfiams gsumpa-ni
hdod-pahi \hams~la-sogs-pa stoh-pa-nid yin-pahi-phyir
hdus-bycts-ston-pa-fiid-de. de-ni yons-su-ma-grub-pahi ranbzin-nid-kyis
ghen-pohi phyogs-hid-du nus-pa-nid-kyi-phyir-ro. 2
VIII. The Relativity of the unconditioned.
The unconditioned is that which is beginningless,
endless and not liable to change. It is relative, inasmuch as
nan-las-hdas pas stoh-no. de cihi-phyir ze-na. dehi ran-bzin de-yinpahi-phyir
te. hdi-ni don-dam-pa-ston-pa-nid ces-byaho. =Dult, 196.
9-10.—The Absolute Reality (or the highest aim) is Nirvana. Being
neither eternal nor evanescent (Cf. the Salutation in the Mulamadhyamika—anucchedam
asasVatam prapancopasamam sivam),
this Nirvana is devoid of a real essence of its own. Why that
Because such is its essential nature. This is what we call the
Relativity of the Ultimate Reality (or of the highest aim).
1 Gser. I. 300a. 2.—dehi ran-bzin-can hdus-byas hiihor-ba
ston-par rtogs-pas~so,
2 Pane. 1. 214a. 6-8.—de-la hdus-byas-ston-panid gan. ze-na
hdus-byas zes-bya~ba-ni hdod-pahi J^hams dan. gzugs-J^yi kjiams dan.
gzugsmed-pahi khams ie. de-la mi-rtag-mi-hjig-paKi-phyir hdod-pahi
khams hdod-pahi Izhams-Izyis ston-ho.........de cihi phyir ze-na.
dehi ran-bzin de yin-pahi-phyir-te. hdi-ni hdus-byas-ston-pa-nid ces*
byaho.=Dutt, 196. 11-13.—Of what kind is the Relativity of conditioned
existence Conditioned existence is (included in) the
World of Carnal Desire, the World of Pure
Matter, and the Immaterial Sphere. Being neither,
eternal, nor evanescent, the World of Carnal Desire is
devoid of a real essence of its own, etc. (the same in regard to the
Sphere of Pure Matter and the Immaterial). Why that Because such
is their essential nature. This is what we call the Relativity of
conditioned existence.
K