THERE IS NO “ETERNALISM HERESY” IN BUDDHISM
copyright 2003 by S.A.



     “#1.How is it Gotama, is “the all” entirety? This is the oldest cosmology Brahman to say ‘the all is entirety’. #2. Then Gotama, is ‘the all’ ultimately not? This is the second cosmology Brahman to say ‘the all is ultimately not’. #3. Then Gotama, is ‘the all’ one’s Soul? This is the third cosmology Brahman to say ‘the all is one’s Soul’. #4. Then Gotama, is ‘the all’ merely composites (materialism, atomism)? This is the fourth cosmology Brahman to say ‘the all is merely composite (atoms)’…” [SN 2.77].  The Atthakatha commentary to this sutta at [Nidanavagga-Att. 2.76], states that the first and third view to be that of the Sassatavadin (perpetualism), whereas the second and fourth view to be that of the Ucchedavadin (annihilationist, atomist). It is certainly of note to make mention that the Jains also rejected sassatavada as a heretical and dogmatic speculation; however all peoples know that the Jains themselves in no way shape or form deny the Soul in its doctrine.
     The views possessed by the Sassatavadin (perpetualist) is that sabbamatthi, or ‘the all is entirety’, and sabbamekattan or ‘the all is one’s Soul’; both of which are heretical notions which are devoid of the middle-term (The Soul), since both lead to a stasis of inaction and desire for emancipation from Samsara in the mind of those with such views. This view is not “eternalism” but perpetualism in that those who possess this belief feel that samsara is without escape and that all one can hope for is the heaping of merit or attainment of a god (deva) realm and or better reincarnation, which is still mere samsara and a view which is devoid of a medium or means (Soul,vijja) for emancipation. Perpetualism is the most common belief in India today in one form or another, wherein its adherents belief that the one that acts is the one that experiences the result [SN 2.20] and there is not other than to watch ones karmic deeds and heap merit in hopes for either equal or a better position is this life and or the next. Both good and bad karma, as per Buddhism and Upanishadic thought, are merely part and parcel of samsara itself, since an absolute stasis (Tat, Brahma, Soul, Atman) is contingent upon Vijja, panna (illumination, wisdom) alone and nothing else. Buddhism itself in sutta proclaims pannavimutta (emancipation by wisdom) as ultimate.
     The equally heretical views possessed by the Ucchedavadin (annihilationist) that sabbamnatthi ‘the all is ultimately not’ (atomism), and sabbam puthuttan or ‘the all is merely composite (atoms)’ are also both heretical notions which are devoid of the middle-term (The Soul), since both lead to inaction and desire for emancipation from Samsara; the difference in view from the Sassatavadin being only the mirror image of the basis and reason for inaction ultimately. This view which is atomistic is also very much closer to Epicureanism, since its basis is that all is for naught, so eat drink and be merry for death comes swiftly. This view is most common in Europe and America today (existentialism, empiricism, atheism) where the cult of scientism and genetic engineering have attempted, in vain, to convince its populace that all is mere chance like a fractal design, atomic assemblages, and that with the aid of those like Darwin, and pseudo-science physics, the Soul can be dismissed as mere hogwash and the fanciful speculations of our “ignorant ancestors” who were “technologically unsophisticated”. Ironically enough, modern “Buddhism” itself is atomistic and holds the very same belief of the Ucchedavadin which Gotama denounced as “heretical” [An 3.337]. Modern heretical “Buddhism” itself conceives of the world (via post-Buddhistic Abhidhammic catechism) as composed of “Selfless dharmic monads” which are without a “basis” (anti-foundationalism, nihilism).
     Both of these views are mere impasses which never attack the heart (mind, citta, Soul) of the matter as addressed by the Vedas, Upanishads, and Nikayas of Buddhism, that being avijja (nescience, agnosis, ignorance) and its reversal through the Jhanas (sati, Samadhi) and gnosis (panna, vijja) which makes con-centric (majjha) ones mind (citta) as its “own support”.  “The all is all”, and “all is naught” are equal and diametrically opposed speculations which never lead to investigation of the basis, or stasis or true being (svabhava). The only opposite to both heretical views is that which is concentric and prior to either becoming (bhava, sassatavada), or annihilation (vibhava, ucchedavada), namely the Self or the Soul which “partakes not of either being nor becoming”, but is “ones True-nature”, or Tathagatagarbha, bodhicitta (Self-same mind illumined), or Selfhood (attan) attained through the Jhanic methodology of inflexure of mind upon itself before it mentates and leads to Vinnana (Vi-nana, agnosis, reflective-mind).
     Both views are in complete antinomy with one another, for to declare the annihilation of what “is” requires the basis for what has become to have been begotten by that which itself is not begotten; whereas for perpetualism to declare the perpetuosity of what “is” in perpetuity does not address that centermost axis mundi which “makes things arise in perpetuity” to begin with. The middle or means, that being the Soul, is the axis mundi, which is without polarity or antinomy whereby Gotama says he “instructs by the means (majjhe)” [SN 2.77]; such that he does not veer to either end of the spectrum of mutually exclusivity, or codependent heretical views of being and annihilation which are void of the basis for either’s arising to begin with, and are consubstantial upon a prerequisite set of conditions for both of their very existences. Views of either becoming or annihilation on the wheel of samsara are devoid of engagement on the topic of the basis for either arising or passing, that being the medium which itself is imbued with the causeless condition (avijja) as impetus for the initiatory causation of ones arising. The wise do not care or are involved in either the coming or going of beings in samsara when one discerns the means (majjha) by which they arise and pass in the first place. What need is there for debating being (sat) or nonbeing (asat) when one has discovered by wisdom what is prior to both and imbued with neither.
     In direct antinomy to either Asadvada (nonbeing-ism) or Sadvada (being-ism) is advaita (non-duality) which is also identical to the Buddhistic Hetuvada (because-of-this-ism, or causation-ism): [SN 2.17] “This world is carried on, Kaccana, by a duality (dvayanissito); which are ‘being (sat, atthiti [views of either sabbamatthi ‘the all is entirety’, and sabbamekattan ‘the all is one’s Soul’ [SN 2.77])’ and ‘nonbeing (asat, natthiti [views of either sabbamnatthi ‘the all is ultimately not’ (atomism), and sabbam puthuttan ‘the all is merely composite (atoms)’ [SN 2.77])’. When the arising of the world is seen as it truly as or as it has become with Samma’ (coherent citta or mind) wisdom there is no notion of ‘being’ or ‘nonbeing’; the same holds true as to the subjugation of the world. This world is entirely bound to dogmas, cravings and beliefs Kaccana. When ones mind is not engaged in either dogmas, cravings or beliefs then there is no arising of speculative views such as ‘this is my Soul’; for he has gnosis and neither doubt or wavering (of mind) that it is merely suffering which has come to arise and merely the cessation of  suffering which ceases. Herein Kaccana one possesses envisionment of Samma’. ‘The all (sabba) is’, and ‘the all is not’ are both dead ends (speculative views). Without involvement in either of these (heretical) views the Tathagata teaches the dhamma by the means (majjhena, or Tat, Brahma, Soul).” Because-of-this, namely anana (agnosis) or avijja (nescience) there is that, and when that is present, so is that and etc.” The Tathagata teaches that both dogmas of sat and asat are fruitless; so the Tathagata, the Sammasambuddha teaches Tat (Brahma, Soul) which is achieved by means of wisdom which destroys nescience (avijja); before “thou art being (sat)” and “thou art unbecoming (asat)”, there is That, “thou art That (Brahma)”.
     Given the absence of avijja which occludes ones Self (attan) or Soul from direct discernment of things as they are or have become (yathabhuta) there is no need to speak of or become involved in either speculation or dogmas relative to being (sat) or non-being (asat) when only action is required to wipe away agnosis with wisdom and the jhanas, whereupon the refulgent glory and magnitude of ones Self-nature or Atman which is identical with Brahma [MN 1.341] becomes Tat (such, that, Brahma) without antinomy or duality (dvayanissito), or speculative dogmatic beliefs regarding ones Soul (attanuditthi). To sum up: [Pati-Att. 2.398] “…’being (sat)’ is perpetualism, whereas ‘nonbeing (asat)’ is nihilism”, or more succinctly: [SN 2.65] “When this exists, that comes to be, with the arising of this, that also arises; when that is not present, that does not come to be; with the subjugation of this, that too is subjugated. Namely this means when nescience (avijja, agnosis) as (original) condition there are volitional experiences (which come to be); with volitional experiences as condition, there is consciousness (vinnana), (which is then manifest).
     Like two monkeys in a tree top, one argues that in the fall the fruit will drop off the tree and rot, and then he will surely starve (ucchedavadin) and die so he should and can do as he likes here-and-now for ultimately all will end at winters arrival (death); whereas the other equally ignorant monkey (sassatavadin) says assuredly that there will be a new batch of fruit next year (next life) and if they take care of the tree top (merit-making), there might even be better or more fruit to eat next year (better reincarnation). Both of these heretical howler monkeys in this analogy (which spend their entire lives in the tree canopy [wheel or round of rebirth]) are ignorant of the grounds or being, the means, the mid-most, the con-centric (majjha, Soul), or root (of the tree itself), like two fools arguing over whether the glass is half full or half empty instead of pondering where the water faucet is which filled the glass to begin with. That very “water faucet” or the source and root (mula, Brahma) of mind is the Soul, the fixed and unchanging mast or post of true-being (Svabhava), or the “unseen productivity (of the fruit)” which the ignorant howler monkeys are unaware of. This “unseen Seer”, which is That (Brahma), which makes things become but itself is unbecome (ajata), and unoriginated [Ud. 1.81], is for the adept imbued with wisdom, to be “fixed in the Soul” [Mahavagga-Att. 2.692] for him who finds it, that rare few, that sage, the Arahant or worthy, has “crossed beyond birth and death” both, and either being (sat) or nonbeing (asat) are without meaning for That which does not partake  of spacio-temporality, is “unbecome, unborn, unmade, and unseen”.

The role of the unchanging in Eternalism and Annihilationism
By Aryasatvan

    The notion of change in Buddhism is not simple mechanical change as in
the illustration of moving ones chair several feet to get a better view of
the television.  Change, that is, real change denotes the arising of
something which previously did not exist or will not exist in the next
moment.  A most notable example is a temporal moment” or a thought.  In both
instances, change is thorough and complete.  One moment becomes another
moment; one thought suddenly turns into a different kind of thought.  From
what we can sense, there is nothing particularly linear about such change as
in the earlier example of moving a chair which stays the same as we move it.
With regard to time and thought, nothing is moved from one location to
another.  There has only been a sudden change into other.  By the same token,
the ultimate substrate has not fundamentally changed at all at least
potentially for me, the participant surrounded by changing phenomena.  For
indeed, what is ultimately simple has nothing to change into if I am actually
that simple nature.  But when I, the participant, over time, learns to fix on
spatial-temporal change, including qualitative change, and quantitative
change, I shall eventually experience radical change insofar as what I
thought I was (or believed was unchanging) has now become something entirely
different.  This last change is the change of generation and degeneration, or
what in popular Buddhist literature is termed birth and death.  As will be
seen later, generation and degeneration are two schools of thought which
Buddhists are forewarned to avoid, commonly called, Eternalism (bhava)
 and Annihilationism (vibhava).
    Now, let us look at the aforementioned from our human state of affairs.
When I was born, the change from my previous life to the present one was a
radical change. As it turns out, I was formally ignorant (avidya) of the
simple, unchanging substratum of all.  Subsequently, I identified with
something changeable which I strongly believed was unchanging.  Whatever I
had identified with, passed away, that is, changed.  It left me bewildered.
And then I came to be something else taking up a new body.  This kind of
change is the change of generation, i.e., the coming-to-be.  It should be
underscored, that such intense change is so radical that, presently, I am
convinced that another such radical change cannot happen because either
IÂ believe I shall always be this present state (Eternalism) or I that I shall
be nothing after this body dies (Annihilationism).
    When I consider myself from under the standpoint of Eternalism (i.e.,
generation) I believe that I am the experiencer.  The manifold of experiences
in which IÂ participate constitute who I really am, this is to say, the one
who acts is the same as the one who experiences.  Believing this way, I
adhere to Eternalism.  By contrast, if upon looking at all of my experiences
I find nothing in them which will remain after these experiences have long
passed away, I adhere to the theory of Annihilationism.
    In Eternalism and Annihilationism, there is one common problem.  In
trying to grasp who we really are we don’t go far enough.  For the
eternalist he is eternal as what is an unending continuum of changing
experiences in which he is the immediate participant.  He is essentially
saying,  I am eternal change itself and this never changes.  When we regard
the view of the annihilationist, he is the flip side of the eternalist.  He
spins it,  What I shall be soon enough is nothing; in becoming nothing
nothing can ever be again.  Effectively, the first worships eternal change
(i.e., generation) while the latter denies the change or generation, seeing
only the process of passing-away.
    Buddhism breaks through this seeming invincible barrier.  To reiterate,
both dont go far enough.  Both, it might be argued, are caught up in the
world of attributes (in Buddhism called dependent originations).  The
eternalist identifies with each and every attribute, thus becoming a
participant in the life of phenomena.  Alongside him, the annihilationist
believes the attributes constituting him are going to be no more in a matter
of years.  Where Buddhism succeeds in its siege against such errant views
lies in comprehending the unchanging.  By the unchanging we mean that of
which other things may be predicated, but which, itself, cannot be said or
predicated.  The world of change, we can say, belongs to the unchanging,
dynamic ground of all.  The coming-to-be and the passing-away are nothing
without the unchanging.  In truth, the first is the arising out of the
unchanging while the second is a return to it (which is not really
annihilation).  What further needs to be accomplished is to see that from
which things arise and fall back into.  For this is truly the core of our
being which in Pali is referred to as majjhatta, translated as middlemost
substance or soul.
    But there is still more.  When we answer to the question of the
unchanging, does not the eternalist and the annihilationist believe that
their positions are also unchanging?  One believes change, itself, is
unchanging while the other believes that being annihilated is unchanging.  At
this point it might be objected that both positions are inadequate since both
constitute an antinomy such that one cannot include its opposite.  And this
is their fallacy.  In fact, both positions advance sham absolutes.  The only
worthy absolute is the unchanging absolute whereby we see it give birth to
phenomena (like our thoughts) and return these forms back into itself by
which this same absolute comes into unity with itself.  In truth, the
coming-to-be is self-affirmation while the passing-away is not annihilation,
but self-affirmation which is a return to self.