Buddhism pt. 3Buddhism pt. 3

Analysis and EvaluationAnalysis and Evaluation

Momentariness:Momentariness:

• Nothing exists for any length of time.

• Each moment is an entirely new existence, which is succeeded by an entirely new existence.

• The only connection between one thing and the next is that one causes the next.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• If Buddha is correct, then time as we know it does not exist.

• This flies in the face of that which is intuitive to the human existence.

Relative Existence:Relative Existence:

• There is no essence to anything.

• The nature of things only exist in relation to everything else that exists.

• Existence is completely relative and conditioned by everything else.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• If there is no enduring essence or nature, then the rewards and punishment of karma are visited on different beings than those that merited them.

• If nothing exists (essentially), the Principle of Identity is incorrect.

• If the Principle of Identity is incorrect, then one of the Laws of thought that govern all rational reason is incorrect.

• If something cannot retain it’s identity (in an essential sense) then NOTHING can be known with certainty: This includes Buddhism itself.

No Self:No Self:

• There is no essence to self.

• We are a collection of things called “aggregates.”

• Aggregates are: the body or form, feelings, ideas, impressions, momentary consciousness.

• Nothing is enduring in the aggregates.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• This has admittedly presented Buddhist practitioners and philosophers with problems for centuries.

• If there is no self, what is it that attains enlightenment or nirvana?

• It cannot be me for I am already gone in an instant.

• If it is not me, then why bother?

No God:No God:

• There is no Braham or any such ultimate enduring substance or nature to reality.

• Nirvana cannot be characterized as either Self, Braham or God

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• The idea of an infinite series of uncaused causes contradicts modern scientific cosmology.

• If Buddha is right, modern cosmologists are necessarily wrong.

• The idea of an infinite series of uncaused causes also flies in the face of intuitive reason.

• It is intuitively more plausible that there is an uncaused ultimate cause, rather than an infinite series of random, unconnected uncaused causes.

Dependent Origination:Dependent Origination:

• Everything has a cause, but nothing has an ultimate cause.

• A momentary existence occurs because of a previous momentary existence, but the cause itself is also momentary.

• Nirvana is not the removal of an ultimate cause (there is not one in Buddhism) but the simultaneous removal of all causes, all of conditioned existence.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• It is intuitively absurd to assert that everything is the result of an infinite series of uncaused causes.

• In Buddhism to reach nirvana is to remove causality. How does this occur if everything is the result of a series of uncaused causes?

• If I can only remove causality for the instant in which I exist, what about the next instant?

Karma:Karma:

• Because there is no substance or duration, the Buddhist view of karma is different than Hinduism or Jainism.

• Karma is only causation, without the mediation of any substance.

• Reincarnation consists in our being caused by something in the past.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• Again, if karma is causation, on what is karma acting?

• It cannot be me, for I am here only a moment?

• It cannot be you, for you are here only a moment.

• There is no moral rhyme or reason for the action of karma.

Nirvana:Nirvana:

• Practice and Enlightenment lead one to nirvana “extinction.”

• This is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

• Buddha refused to distinctly characterize nirvana.

• For instance, when asked if we exist when we achieve nirvana Buddha answered with the

Fourfold Negation:Fourfold Negation:

• Denied that we exist.

• Denied that we do not exist.

• Denied that we both exist and do not exist.

• Denied that we neither exist or do not exist.

Philosophical Problems:Philosophical Problems:

• Buddha’s response to the question of existence and nirvana is a non-answer.

• If the founder of a religion cannot describe the nature of existence when one achieves the ultimate goal of that religion, should one even consider accepting that religion as a viable option?