30.11.2016 Views

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

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.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!