Mahayana Buddhism and Early Advaita Vedanta (Study)
by Asokan N. | 2018 | 48,955 words
This thesis is called: Mahayana Buddhism And Early Advaita Vedanta A Critical Study. It shows how Buddhism (especially Mahayana) was assimilated into Vedantic theorisation in due course of time. Philosophical distance between Mahayana Buddhism and Advaita-Vedanta became minimal with the advent of Gaudapada and Shankaracharya, who were both harbinge...
Chapter 2.8 - Nirvana Pariksha (examination)
In the Nirvana Pariksha, Buddha as well as Nagarjuna tried to avoid the metaphysical questions regarding freedom (Nirvana). Therefore Nagarjuna speaks of freedom as neither existence nor non-existence. In the sense of reasoning this is at the same time ‘Bhava’ and ‘Abhava’. This question of Samsara, Freedom or Nirvana has a unique place in the Mahayana Philosophy. Nirvana and Samsara and its identity form the major tenets of the philosophy of Nirvana. After the Parinirvana, the Buddha was raised to the level of a Supreme Being. The Mahayana texts like ‘Sadharma Pundarika’ and other works contain discussions on the substantial views regarding the nature of the Buddha. Buddha’s own view that Nirvana is the ultimate fruit (Paramartha) a culmination of fruit of everyday life, the highest moral perfection-‘Kusalassa Upasampada’, the promotion of good in a moral sublimity.
Metaphysical questions on finite and infinite eternal and non-eternal are discussed in a negative and detailed character. Nagarjuna comes to the conclusion that things which are seen are empty in the dependently arisen phenomena. And he speaks appeasement of all objects and things the Prapancopashama in a positive description of bondage and freedom as is enunciated in the Kaccayana Gota Sutta.