About the Book:

This short treatise was originally conceived as a contribution to the Royal Asiatic Society's journal. The work explains in detail the principle of Radical Pluralism which asserts that the elements alone are realities while every combination of them is a mere name covering a plurality of separate elements. The principle has been elucidated by its contrast with Arambhavada which maintains the reality of the whole as well as of the elements and with Parinamavada which ascribes absolute reality to the whole.

The work is divided into sixteen sections dealing with the Skandhas, Ayatanas, Dhatus, Elements of mind, Pratiyasamutpada, Karma, Impermanence in Sankhya Yoga, Theory of Cognition, Pre-Buddhaic Buddhism etc.

It has two appendices dealing with the views of Vasubandhu on the fundamental principles of Sarvastivada and the classification of all elements of existence according to the Sarvastivadins. The two indices record proper names and Sanskrit terms occurring in the work.

About the Author:

TH. STCHERBATSKY (1866-1942) one of the pioneering scholars of Buddhist Studies who wrote, edited and translated several works like - Nyayabindu, Abhisamayalamkara Prajnaparamitopadesa Sastra, Buddhist Logic (2 Vols), The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana, Erkenntnistheorie and Logic nqch der Lehre der Spateren Buddhisten and so on and so forth.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

   I. PRELIMINARY
  II. SKANDHAS
 III. AYATANAS
  IV. DHATUS
   V. MATTER
  VI. ELEMENTS OF MIND
 VII. FORCES 
VIII. NON-SUBSTANTIALITY OF THE ELEMENTS
  IX. PRATITYA-SAMUTPADA (CAUSALITY)
   X. KARMA
  XI. IMPERMANENCE OF THE ELEMENTS
 XII. IMPERMANENCE IN THE SANKHYA-YOGA
XIII. UNREST OF THE ELEMENTS
 XIV. THEORY OF COGNITION
  XV. PRE-BUDDHAIC BUDDHISM
 XVI. SUMMARY

APPENDIX I. Vasubandhu on the fundamental principle of the Sarvastivada School

APPENDIX II. Tables of the Elements according to the Sarvastivadins

INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

INDEX OF SANSCRIT TERMS

Of Related Interest :

Books on the Philosophy of Budhism

SEVEN WORKS OF VASUBANDHU (The Buddhist Psychological Doctor)