Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “non-existence of the donor” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Part 13 - Non-existence of the donor
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In this section, the Mppś argues against the belief in a soul (ātmavāda), the belief in individaulity (pudgalavāda) which finds adherents, not only among heretics, but also among certain Buddhists, mainly the Vātsīputrīya-Sāṃmitīyas (cf. above, Traité, I, p. 43F, n.) In the refutation presented here by the Mppś, we have changed slightly the banalities current among the opponents of the Ātmavāda who plagiarize one another at every opportunity:
Canonical and post-canonical sources: Vinaya, I, p. 13–14; Milinda, p. 25 sq; Kathāvatthu, I, p. 1. Sarvāstivādin and Vaibhāṣika: Vijñānakāya in L. de La Vallée Poussin, La Controverse du temps et du Pudgala dans le Vijñānakāya, EA, p. 358–376; Kośa, IX, p. 227–302.
Madhyamika: Madh. kārikā and vṛtti, p. 340–381; Chatuḥśataka, ed. P. Vaidya, p. 83–89 (tr. p. 138–142), ed. Bhattacharya, p. 19–101; Madh. āvatāra, p. 233–287 (tr. LAV., Muséon, 1911, p. 282–328); Bodhicaryāvatāra, IX, v. 73, and Pañjikā, p. 471–484.
Vijñānavādin: Sūtrālaṃkāra, ed. Lévi, p. 154–160 (tr. Lévi, p. 259–265); Siddhi, p. 14–15; Tattvasaṃgraha, I, p. 125–130 (tr. S. Schayer, Kamalaśīlas Kritik des Pudgalavāda, RO, VIII, 1932, p. 68–93; tr. Jha, I, p. 217–226).
It should be noted that the Mppś, attributed rightly or wrongly to Nāgārjuna, shows no special resemblance in its refutation of the ātman to the Madh. kārikā of Nāgārjuna, and, in a word, seems to ignore it whereas, in other places, it frequently has recourse to it (cf. Traité, I, p. 36F, 37F, 69F, 367F, 378F, 396F). We have already determined above, Traité, p. 614F, n., that the Mppś, at certain places, departs from the doctrines of the Madh. kārikā.