The Metaphysical Foundation of Buddhism and Modern Science
The Metaphysical Foundations of Buddhism and Modern Science: Nagarjuna and Alfred North Whitehead
The Metaphysical Foundations of Buddhism and Modern Science: Nagarjuna and Alfred North Whitehead
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effect, or bondage <strong>and</strong> liberation, the nature <strong>and</strong> the existence <strong>of</strong> each are<br />
dependent on the other. <strong>The</strong> one arises with the other <strong>and</strong> disappears with the<br />
other. This is why a thing arises substantially, neither out <strong>of</strong> itself, nor out <strong>of</strong><br />
another, nor out <strong>of</strong> both, nor without a cause. <strong>The</strong>re is no fundamental core to<br />
reality; rather reality consists <strong>of</strong> systems <strong>of</strong> interacting bodies. This view <strong>of</strong><br />
reality is first <strong>and</strong> foremost an idea; a pointer to reality which cannot be<br />
described in words. One who can speak about concept-free reality has not<br />
experienced it. For the Buddhist tradition based on Nagarjuna, the yogic<br />
experience <strong>of</strong> substancelessness, the experience <strong>of</strong> dependent arising, the<br />
direct perception <strong>of</strong> reality as it is, all presuppose a high level <strong>of</strong> spiritual<br />
realisation which entails the ab<strong>and</strong>onment <strong>of</strong> extreme views <strong>and</strong> the demolition<br />
<strong>of</strong> the entire edifice <strong>of</strong> dualistic thought <strong>and</strong> philosophy. To experience<br />
pratityasamutpada or sunyata means to become free <strong>of</strong> all entanglements <strong>of</strong><br />
this world. Nirvana is simply another expression for this.