  The main point of disagreement between the Vaibhāṣika and  the Sautrāntikas concerns the possibility of causation at a  distance: that is, whether it is possible for the cognitive awareness preceding the attainment of cessation to serve as the immediately  antecedent condition for the arising of consciousness after  cessation. In assuming that mental activity is absent in the  attainment of cessation, the Vaibhāṣikas explain continuity in the mental stream by appealing to the principle of causation at a  distance, specifically by relying on their trans-temporal view of  dharmas. Furthermore, for the Vaibhāṣikas, given that they accept the existence of past dharmas, the thought of cessation  (samāpatticitta) becomes the immediately antecedent and homogeneous condition for the thought of awakening  (vyutthānacitta). 