The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

by Ganganatha Jha | 1937 | 699,812 words | ISBN-10: 8120800583 | ISBN-13: 9788120800588

This page contains verse 1023 of the 8th-century Tattvasangraha (English translation) by Shantarakshita, including the commentary (Panjika) by Kamalashila: dealing with Indian philosophy from a Buddhist and non-Buddhist perspective. The Tattvasangraha (Tattvasamgraha) consists of 3646 Sanskrit verses; this is verse 1023.

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

वस्त्वित्यध्यवसायाच्च वस्त्वित्यपि तदुच्यते ।
झटित्येव हि तज्ज्ञानं भ्रान्तं जातं स्वबीजतः ॥ १०२३ ॥

vastvityadhyavasāyācca vastvityapi taducyate |
jhaṭityeva hi tajjñānaṃ bhrāntaṃ jātaṃ svabījataḥ || 1023 ||

Because it is cognised as a positive ‘entity’, therefore it is called a ‘positive entity’;—this mistaken cognition is produced quickly from its seed.—(1023)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

As regards its externality, that also is spoken of as such only by persons under illusion; it is not real.—This is what is shown in the following—[see verse 1023 above]

Objection:—“If in any case, there were a positive entity in the shape of the Commonalty based upon an external object actually apprehended, then it might be possible to have an illusion of the Commonalty based upon similarity; when however, there is no real primary ‘Commonalty’ (according to the Buddhist), the said illusion of commonalty is not possible for you.”

Answer:—‘This mistaken cognition, etc. etc.’—‘Quality’;—i.e. the cognition in question appears, independently of the perception of any real Commonalty,—through some internal aberration,—like the conception of ‘two moons’; all illusions do not really proceed from the perception of similarity; they appear through mental aberration also. Hence there is no incongruity in our view.—(1023)

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