absence of fullness

[Guest guest]

On 03 Feb 2000, Dvarakadhisa das wrote:

> > > The following is a quote from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

> > > "In the angle there is always the defect in the shape of absence of

> > > fullness, the evenness of level, of 180 degrees less than 360 degrees.

> > > But in the plain surface, in 360 degrees, there is no such defect.

> > > Ordinary foolish people fail to grasp this simple truth: that in the

emancipated state no defect is possible."

Didn't someone mention "abhAva" here some time ago? It might be

relevent here. Did Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura say this in

English? If not, and especially if, for "absence," he used the word "abhAva,"

we might want to consider four possible types of absence recognized in

Madhvaite, logic, and Vaisheshika traditions:

 

1) prAg-abhAva=without a beginning, but with an end

(i.e., the absence prior to the production of an effect)

2) pradhvaMzAbhAva=with a beginning, but no end

(i.e., destruction, the absence after production of an effect)

3) atyantAbhAva=absolute absence, maintained through all three kAlas

(negatedness is specified by a relation; i.e., There is "no-pot.")

4) anyonyAbhAva=mutual absence (as in between 'apples and oranges; an absence

consisting of the difference between two things)

 

Of course, before splitting hairs about it, more information about the

context in which he spoke this would always be helpful. To me, the quote

above is interesting, but his point remains a little bit vague.

 

MDd