Note 13 — THE DIAMOND SUTRA

“The Sramana (Buddhist monk) who sets himself to overcome the evils of existence, retires from all intercourse with the world, and either practises meditation, simply, or joins with it the practice of Kasina (an ascetic exercise to free the mind from all agitation), by which he is enabled to attain to Nimitta (inward illumination), which is represented as being a mental illumination that brings with it, in various degrees of perfection, the state of mind called Samadhi (absolute self-abstraction). This result of profound meditation includes undisturbed tranquillity, and equanimity the most entire, and in its superior degree it produces unconsciousness.”—Eastern Monachism. Spence Hardy.

“The world-honoured one would not then have said: ‘Subhuti, what is this but the name of the one who delights in the mortification of an Aranyaka (forest devotee),’ regarding ‘Subhuti’ as in truth not acting at all, but as a mere name, then (in such forgetfulness of self) ‘he is one who delights in self-mortification.’”—Kin-Kong-King. Beal.