Is Theravada "Realist"?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

TMingyur wrote:I have known beforehand that there are Theravadins who hold a realist view.
But the question Is Theravada "Realist"? implies that there is an authority with reference to Theravada tenets. If this is so who/what is that authority?

Kind regards
Imho both views are authentic but (authentically :P ) conflicting. Seems to be part of the old Abhidharma-Suttanta dichotomy with Sutras primarily showing some "Putthujanic" view on reality with things that seem to really exist out of themselves, world-systems being destroyed by the elements of fire, water, wind and so forth and on the other hand side the quantized, unreal world-view of Abhidharma which mainly seems to have come from meditative experience and aimed at meditators or people interested to know how it really is.
Its a bit shitty that the Theravada commentaries arent easily accessible so its very hard to see if there is / was a common ground or if they somehow managed to bring those two views together as later schools tried.
For the student its really hard anyways because - which maybe as a Vajrayani you understand best - always have to accept the whoel cake, including all the shortcomings and have to be careful not to interprete too much or put your own stuff in there.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:First of all Theravada is an old philosophy that has quite a few holes. I pointed to one here which I dont know if you ralized it.
So, just to clarify, what are the holes?
>> 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
Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

So, just to clarify, what are the holes?
a) Past dharmas which are nonexistent cant cause present dharmsa because nonexistint causes dont have causal efficacy
b) Dharmas which dont have a location cannot exist anywhere (problem concernign Rupa-Devas)
c) The mindstream of Arahants in Nirodha is interrupted so the Arahant cannot come back to life

These are the ones which are relevant for this discussion and need to remain untouched if we want to stay in the context of Theravada.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:
So, just to clarify, what are the holes?
a) Past dharmas which are nonexistent cant cause present dharmsa because nonexistint causes dont have causal efficacy
b) Dharmas which dont have a location cannot exist anywhere (problem concernign Rupa-Devas)
c) The mindstream of Arahants in Nirodha is interrupted so the Arahant cannot come back to life

These are the ones which are relevant for this discussion and need to remain untouched if we want to stay in the context of Theravada.
And where are these "holes" located?
>> 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
Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

And where are these "holes" located?
They are located in the Theravada philosophy and have been pointed out by f.e. Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna or in the Mahavibasha or Vijnaanakayasastra.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:
And where are these "holes" located?
They are located in the Theravada philosophy and have been pointed out by f.e. Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna or in the Mahavibasha or Vijnaanakayasastra.
Unacceptable sources. If you are going to make claims about what the Theravada teaches, one needs to use Theravadin sources, not polemical treatises of rival schools.
>> 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
Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

tiltbillings wrote:
Akuma wrote:
And where are these "holes" located?
They are located in the Theravada philosophy and have been pointed out by f.e. Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna or in the Mahavibasha or Vijnaanakayasastra.
Unacceptable sources. If you are going to make claims about about what the Theravada teaches, one needs to use Theravadin sources, not polemical treatises of rival schools.
An interesting idea to let only philosophers of school X criticize positions of school X. Maybe some day you should sit down and reflect why you think that way.

But as I said above already if we want to stay in the context of Theravada those holes have to be accepted. This means that if Alex for exampel or myself stumble over those holes then one has to know that they are existing and if we want to be authentic in representing Theravada philosophy we cannot try creating bridges over them as long as those dont exist in Theravada treatises.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:An interesting idea to let only philosophers of school X criticize positions of school X. Maybe some day you should sit down and reflect why you think that way.
Why should I accept as accurate critiques by rival schools, and that is even assuming that these authors were actually addressing the Theravada, or even accurately addressing the Theravada, which you cannot show that they are? If you want to present the supposed “holes” in Theravada philosophy, then to meaningfully do it, you need to use actual Theravadin sources as the basis of the critique, not later Mahayana or later Mainstream schools polemical works, which carry absolutely no weight within the Theravada. Which actual Theravadin texts did the authors you cited quote to make their points?
But as I said above already if we want to stay in the context of Theravada those holes have to be accepted.
But, as it stands, you have shown no holes within the Theravada position. You need to do a bit more work than referencing the authors your referenced, especially when you cannot even show that they are even addressing the Theravada and Theravadin works.
This means that if Alex for exampel or myself stumble over those holes then one has to know that they are existing and if we want to be authentic in representing Theravada philosophy we cannot try creating bridges over them as long as those dont exist in Theravada treatises.
Good luck with that.
>> 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
Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

If you want to present the supposed “holes” in Theravada philosophy, then to meaningfully do it, you need to use actual Theravadin sources as the basis of the critique, not later Mahayana or later Mainstream schools polemical works, which carry absolutely no weight within the Theravada.
Its you who wants to make these "holes" the topic of this thread, not me.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:
If you want to present the supposed “holes” in Theravada philosophy, then to meaningfully do it, you need to use actual Theravadin sources as the basis of the critique, not later Mahayana or later Mainstream schools polemical works, which carry absolutely no weight within the Theravada.
Its you who wants to make these "holes" the topic of this thread, not me.
There is no problem, because there are no "holes," at least not that you have shown.
>> 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
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Alex123
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Alex123 »

Hello Chownah,
chownah wrote:Alex123,
I found this link in another thread....
http://www.beyondthenet.net/calm/nibbana24.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
seems like it might support the view that there is a "real world"....maybe have a look and see if it provides something new...or maybe it is the same stuff you have been talking about and I've just missed it....
chownah
I'd like to correct something that you've said, I was talking about rūpa (not "real world" in direct/naive/common sense realism), that is independent of the mind. A subtle but big difference.
chownah
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by chownah »

Alex123 wrote:Hello Chownah,
chownah wrote:Alex123,
I found this link in another thread....
http://www.beyondthenet.net/calm/nibbana24.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
seems like it might support the view that there is a "real world"....maybe have a look and see if it provides something new...or maybe it is the same stuff you have been talking about and I've just missed it....
chownah
I'd like to correct something that you've said, I was talking about rūpa (not "real world" in direct/naive/common sense realism), that is independent of the mind. A subtle but big difference.
I haven't been differentiating betweent the two so can you give some ideas about what the difference is between "real world" and your view of rupa? It seems to me that they are both beyond range ("beyond range" as from The All sutta) and are some kind of substrate upon which our fabrications are based....so I'm hoping you can show me the difference which I am missing.
chownah
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Alex123
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Alex123 »

chownah wrote:
Alex123 wrote:Hello Chownah,
I'd like to correct something that you've said, I was talking about rūpa (not "real world" in direct/naive/common sense realism), that is independent of the mind. A subtle but big difference.
I haven't been differentiating betweent the two so can you give some ideas about what the difference is between "real world" and your view of rupa? It seems to me that they are both beyond range ("beyond range" as from The All sutta) and are some kind of substrate upon which our fabrications are based....so I'm hoping you can show me the difference which I am missing.
chownah

The objective base (āyatana) for Forms, sounds, smells, flavors, tangible objects exist regardless of whether you cognize it or not.
These make up part of the All, so it is not beyond range.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of course objectively these material things may not be exact as our consciousness of them, and different sense faculty may interpret the same source differently. But they do exist regardless of whether there is consciousness or not. Without consciousness one wouldn't be able to describe or know them, but they still are.

IMHO idea or perception about an object, and object are different layers.


With best wishes,

Alex
Akuma
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by Akuma »

tilt wrote: There is no problem, because there are no "holes," at least not that you have shown.
Well since Alex has apperently given up on me here u go.

First of all Majjhimanikaya I,43 and Visuddimagga 720 shows that there is no citta in Nirodhasamapati. Additionally its called Sannavedayitanirodha which means two universals (sanna and vedana) are missing, which means only cittas without the universals can occur which means no cittas occur at all.
Secondly it follows there is only rupa but karma is mental (AN 6,63). Since the re-emergence according to Abhidhammatta-Sangaha IV,14 is lokuttara-vipaka-phala-citta of Anagami or Arahant this is impossible because
a) The cause for Vipaka is in the past and the past doesnt exist (Kathavatthu I,6 / IX,12)
b) Because there is no present or directly-preceding basis for karma since there is no citta
c) Because lokuttara-cittas are sahetuka / accompanied by Panna (Dhammasangani 292 / 364) which is not existing in Rupa since
Thirdly Rupa is according to Kathavatthu XVI,5 no hetu and is also ahetuka (ibid xvi,6), which means that Rupa does not bring forth citta. This can be shown by showing that all the 121 Cittas are not caused by rupa.
a) The Vipakacittas due to lack of kamma
b) The Kirya-, Kusala- and Akusalacittas cant occur due to lack of hetu.

The time-argument is true for all present-only worldviews and the spacetime argument I've now explained several times to Alex.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Is Theravada "Realist"?

Post by tiltbillings »

Akuma wrote:
tilt wrote: There is no problem, because there are no "holes," at least not that you have shown.
Well since Alex has apperently given up on me here u go.

First of all Majjhimanikaya I,43 and Visuddimagga 720 shows that there is no citta in Nirodhasamapati. Additionally its called Sannavedayitanirodha which means two universals (sanna and vedana) are missing, which means only cittas without the universals can occur which means no cittas occur at all.
Secondly it follows there is only rupa but karma is mental (AN 6,63). Since the re-emergence according to Abhidhammatta-Sangaha IV,14 is lokuttara-vipaka-phala-citta of Anagami or Arahant this is impossible because
a) The cause for Vipaka is in the past and the past doesnt exist (Kathavatthu I,6 / IX,12)
b) Because there is no present or directly-preceding basis for karma since there is no citta
c) Because lokuttara-cittas are sahetuka / accompanied by Panna (Dhammasangani 292 / 364) which is not existing in Rupa since
Thirdly Rupa is according to Kathavatthu XVI,5 no hetu and is also ahetuka (ibid xvi,6), which means that Rupa does not bring forth citta. This can be shown by showing that all the 121 Cittas are not caused by rupa.
a) The Vipakacittas due to lack of kamma
b) The Kirya-, Kusala- and Akusalacittas cant occur due to lack of hetu.

The time-argument is true for all present-only worldviews and the spacetime argument I've now explained several times to Alex.
But you still have not shown that they are "holes."
>> 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
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