आकाशे चाविशेषात् ॥ २४ ॥
ākāśe cāviśeṣāt || 24 ||
ākāśe—In the case of Akasa (space); ca—also; aviśeṣāt—there being no difference.
24. The case of Akasa also not being different (from the twofold destruction, it also cannot be a non-entity).
According to the Bauddhas, besides the twofold destruction Akasa or space is a third non-entity. It means the absence in general of any covering or occupying body. It has been shown in Sutras 22-23 that the two kinds of destruction are not absolutely devoid of positive characteristics and so cannot be non-entities. The case of Akasa is also similar. Just as earth, air, etc. are recognized to be entities in consequence of their being the substratum of properties like smell etc., similarly Akasa also on account of its being the substratum of sound ought to be recognized as an entity. Earth etc. are experienced through their attributes, and the existence of Akasa also is experienced through its attribute, sound. Consequently it also must be an entity.