Buddhist Metaphysics

Buddhist Sects: Sautrantika & Sarvastivadin Philosophy

Sarvastivadin is a Buddhist sect holding that phenomena exist in a latent form forever. Sautrantika and Sammitiya are also Buddhist, not Jaina, sects.

Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference

Archived: 2017

Updated: 5 Dec 2025

Exam Year

2017

Evidence Source

Link ↗

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC CSE Prelims 2017]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Early Buddhism split into numerous schools (the 'Eighteen Schools') with differing metaphysical views on the nature of reality and existence.

Authentic Source Evidence

Sarvastivada (literally 'all exists') taught that past, present, and future dharmas (factors) exist simultaneously. Sautrantikas relied strictly on 'Sutras', rejecting the Abhidharma.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Statement 1 is incorrect. Both Sautrantika and Sammitiya are early schools of Buddhism, not Jainism.

Logic 2: Statement 2 is correct. The Sarvastivada school believed that while phenomena are ever-changing, their underlying constituents (dharmas) exist eternally in all three periods of time.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was the unique belief of the Sammitiya sect?"

They believed in a 'pudgala' (person), a sort of enduring entity that transmigrates, which was controversial among other Buddhist schools that taught 'Anatta' (no-self).

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Sarvastivadin view 'Sarvam Asti' (Everything Exists) was a major departure from the standard Buddhist doctrine of absolute momentariness."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

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