Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

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smokey
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Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by smokey »

Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
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retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

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."
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smokey
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by smokey »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

Reality in what sense?...

Ontological? Phenomenological? etc

Metta,
Retro. :)
In ontological and Phenomenological.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Smokey,

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

Post by Pannapetar »

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
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smokey
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by smokey »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Smokey,

Would you consider "existence" to be synonymous with "reality"?

Metta,
Retro. :)
Well, yes. I asked this question because for an example reality in Dzogchen is considered literally unreal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_in_Buddhism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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retrofuturist
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by retrofuturist »

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. :)
"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

Post by smokey »

No need for apologies :toast:
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by mikenz66 »

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
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by kannada »

Hi Smokey,
smokey wrote:Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
Could you please define 'real'?

Regards

k
Just a view - nothing more...
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by tiltbillings »

smokey wrote:Is reality in Theravāda Buddhism considered to be real or unreal?
Are you wanting an answer from specifically an Abhidhamma standpoint, or from a more general standpoint including the suttas?
>> 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.

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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by Ben »

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
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by smokey »

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
This gave me answers. Thank you all.
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Re: Reality in Theravāda Buddhism

Post by Gwi II »

smokey wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:46 am In ontological and Phenomenological.
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.
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