Does Buddhism is an idealism?

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Cool-team
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Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by Cool-team »

Is Mahayana Buddhism idealism, or does it say that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings?
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DooDoot
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by DooDoot »

Buddhism says that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings because it says in so many places the arising of consciousness depends on sense organs and sense objects.
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Cool-team
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by Cool-team »

DooDoot wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:47 am Buddhism says that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings because it says in so many places the arising of consciousness depends on sense organs and sense objects.
Thank you, what about Mahayana Buddhism and Yogacara?
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Kim OHara
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by Kim OHara »

Cool-team wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:37 am Is Mahayana Buddhism idealism, or does it say that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings?
You should ask on the Mahayana forum - https://www.dharmawheel.net/search.php? ... ive_topics

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asahi
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by asahi »

DooDoot wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:47 am Buddhism says that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings because it says in so many places the arising of consciousness depends on sense organs and sense objects.
I dont understand , depending in sense organ and sense objects means not independent , because both group are dependent on each other .
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Bundokji
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by Bundokji »

I think the Buddha's teachings are too dynamic to be framed as "Buddhism is ...". Instead, it is better to focus on what the Buddha's teachings is designed to do.

The mind seems to be relevant to the extent that it precedes mental states. What follows is that the quality of the mind affects how we experience the world. Speculating about whether the world is originated in the mind or there is an independent existence of the physical realm is missing the point in my view. Another reason to avoid such speculations is that dependent origination allows for endless interpretations of how the world came to be. Imagine that you came to know that "that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings", then what? what have you achieved?
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Does Buddhism is an idealism?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
Cool-team wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:37 am Is Mahayana Buddhism idealism, or does it say that the entire physical world exists independently of the minds of living beings?
As above, this is a question better suited to a Mahayana Buddhist forum such as Dharma Wheel so it will be closed.

Metta,
Paul. :)
"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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