And therefore,
He did not for the love of quarrelling present
The treatise’s explorations, but to liberate.
Thus, when the master gave the extensive presentations of reasoning in the Middle Way Treatise, he did not do so for the love of dispute, meaning that he didn’t present them in order to triumph over opponents. He presented these analyses so that beings could be liberated, thinking how excellent it would be if by presenting the reality of things through the Middle Way Treatise sentient beings could come to an unmistaken realisation of this reality and thereby reach liberation.
‘But haven’t you been systematically reiterating all these ideas held by your opponents and then proved them wrong? When using the treatise in this argumentative way, how can you propose that its purpose isn’t precisely the refutation of ideas?’
Let me explain. Although these analyses were not carried out for the purposes of dispute, the systems of our opponents being feeble will not be able to hold up in the face of a presentation of actual reality; they crumble just like darkness in the presence of light. So the fault lies not with us. To express this:
One can’t be blamed if one’s opponents’ theories
Are shattered when unravelling reality. (6.118)
As stated:
Although the tathāgatas did not teach
This dharma for the sake of dispute,
It will incinerate opposing arguments
Like fire consumes its fuel.1
Title
Chapter 1: Pramuditā
