—  047  — 
Vaigesika.  And  what  does  it  mean? 
Vasubandhu.  It  simply  means  that  the  result  springs  up  from  an  ultimate 
phase  in  a  continuity  (of  evolution  which  begins  with  that  action). 
Vaigesika.  What  is  meant  by  a  continuity,  what  by  a  change  in  it.  and  108.  я.  7. 
what  by  the  ultimate  phase  of  it? 
Vasubandhu.  A  continuity  is  a  continually  reverting  origination  of 
(new  moments  of)  consciousness  which  are  following  on  an  action.  Every 
following  moment  (being  a  more  or  less  modified  combination  of  elements), 
is  different  from  the  preceding  moment.  A  change  which  has  the  capacity  of 
immediately  producing  the  result  is  called  the  characteristic  (or  ultimate) 
change,  because  it  is  specially  distinguished  from  other  changes,  as  f.  i.  con- 
sciousness in  the  moment  of  death  (represents  such  an  ultimate  cha- 
racteristic change,  since  it  is  followed  by  consciousness)  assuming  a  new 
existence.56 
(Vaigesika.  But  a  present  condition  of  body  and  mind  may  have  been 
preceeded  by  different  kinds  of  actions.  Among  them  what  are  the  actions 
which  in  first  place  will  influence  the  subsequent  evolution?) 
Vasubandhu.  When  many  various  actions  are  the  starting  point  (of  one  іов.ъ.  і. 
single  stream  of  evolution),  then  those  among  them  that  are  weighty,  near 
ia  time,  or  grown  into  habit  have  a  stronger  power  (of  vitality),  they  clearly 
manifest  their  results  to  the  exclusion  of  the  remaining  ones.  Accordingly 
it  is  said  (by  Rahul  a): 
«Among  the  actions  going  round  (from  birth  to  death) 
Those  will  be  ripening  first  in  order, 
*    That  are  weighty,  or  are  near, 
Then  those  one's  got  accustomed  to. 
And  (lastly  the  remaining)  ones.» 
Tn  a  single  continuity  of  a  personal  life  four  kinds  of  actions  can  be 
distinguished:  actions  of  great  weight,  actions  near  in  time,  actions  grown 
into  habit,  and  the  remaining  preceding  actions  (of  the  same  existence).  Among 
these  four  categories  a  weighty  action  ripens  first,  i.  e.  it  ripens  sooner  than 
the  three  other  categories.  Among  those  that  are  near,  habitual,  or  simply 
preceding  (unqualified),  those  that  are  near  ripen  before  the  two  other 
categories.  Among  the  habitual  and  preceding  ones,  the  habitual  ripen  first 
i.  e.  before  the  (remaining)  single  (category  of  actions  unqualified).  When 
all  these  categories  are  exhausted  (i.  e.  all  actions  of  the  present  life  have 
given  their  result),  then  come  actions  that  will  bear  their  result  (in  the 
Иввѣстія  P.  A.  II.  1919. 
