Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
- retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Greetings,
Reality in what sense?...
Ontological? Phenomenological? etc
Metta,
Retro.
Reality in what sense?...
Ontological? Phenomenological? etc
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
In ontological and Phenomenological.retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,
Reality in what sense?...
Ontological? Phenomenological? etc
Metta,
Retro.
- retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Greetings Smokey,
Would you consider "existence" to be synonymous with "reality"?
Metta,
Retro.
Would you consider "existence" to be synonymous with "reality"?
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Regarding reality, there is a distinction in Buddhism known as the two-truth doctrine that distinguishes between two types of truth, relative and absolute truth. So the dhamma contains these two types of truths. Relative truths are common-sense statements which are useful, but do not hold up considering ultimate reality, whereas absolute truths are statements that relate directly to ultimate reality. The dhamma makes few explicit classification statements about these two types, so it is not obvious which suttas express which type of truth. The two-truth idea is developed fully in Mahayana, especially by Nagarjuna, but the notion is also present in Theravada.
Theravada is ontologically agnostic, at least this is the official view. Some people have ascribed realism to Theravada, but I am not so sure about that. Perhaps you can find epistemological realism and moral realism, but I doubt that you find much ontological realism. It has always been my impression that Theravada leans heavily towards phenomenalism.
Cheers, Thomas
Theravada is ontologically agnostic, at least this is the official view. Some people have ascribed realism to Theravada, but I am not so sure about that. Perhaps you can find epistemological realism and moral realism, but I doubt that you find much ontological realism. It has always been my impression that Theravada leans heavily towards phenomenalism.
Cheers, Thomas
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Well, yes. I asked this question because for an example reality in Dzogchen is considered literally unreal.retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Smokey,
Would you consider "existence" to be synonymous with "reality"?
Metta,
Retro.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_in_Buddhism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Greetings,
In that case, the following sutta may go some way to answering your question...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
.. plus there's a topic going on at the moment about nama-rupa which may also help.
Apologies that neither are specifically Abhidhamma focused.
Metta,
Retro.
In that case, the following sutta may go some way to answering your question...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
.. plus there's a topic going on at the moment about nama-rupa which may also help.
Apologies that neither are specifically Abhidhamma focused.
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
No need for apologies
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Smokey, Some of the issues have been discussed in other threads such as: http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1784" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And see: http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... try1215334" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta
Mike
And see: http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... try1215334" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta
Mike
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Hi Smokey,
Regards
k
Could you please define 'real'?smokey wrote:Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
Regards
k
Just a view - nothing more...
- tiltbillings
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Are you wanting an answer from specifically an Abhidhamma standpoint, or from a more general standpoint including the suttas?smokey wrote:Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Dear all
Since the question has been asked in the Abhidhamma Forum I ask that all members provide textual support from the Abhidhamma or Abhidhamma commentaries or works from later Abhidhamma scholars in answering the OP's question.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Ben
Since the question has been asked in the Abhidhamma Forum I ask that all members provide textual support from the Abhidhamma or Abhidhamma commentaries or works from later Abhidhamma scholars in answering the OP's question.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
This gave me answers. Thank you all.mikenz66 wrote:Smokey, Some of the issues have been discussed in other threads such as: http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1784" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And see: http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... try1215334" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta
Mike
Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism
Not for these two.
In fact, there is no such thing as being,
so the "reality" of your subject is just like
that (there is no such thing as being).
Reality refers to the view of eternalism;
unreality refers to the view of nihilism.
Without turning to either view, the middle
path must be seen: Law of Dependent
Origination--if this exists, that also exists;
if this does not exist, that does not exist.
Gwi: "There are only-two Sakaṽādins:
Theraṽādå&Ṽibhajjaṽādå, the rest are
nonsakaṽādins!"
Theraṽādå&Ṽibhajjaṽādå, the rest are
nonsakaṽādins!"