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Buddhist philosophy : principle and practice

University of British Columbia

This thesis is an exposition of the principles and practice of Buddhism from the perspective of Thai Theravada. The emphasis which has been placed by exponenets of Buddhism on "major divisions" such as Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna, or on "schools of thought" such as Mādhyamika, Yogācāra. Vijnānavāda etc., has produced a fractured image of Buddhism. The value of these specialized treatments cannot be denied bu: their effect in producing a notion of "many Buddhisms" has done some disservice to the tradition. Underlying the diversities of Buddhism there is an essential unity. The characterisics of human existence, the causal nexus which results in bondage, the promise of freedom; these fundamental truths are found in all schools of Buddhism so that the central myth expressing the religious truth has remained unchanged through history. For this reason the thesis is organized according to the conventional pattern:,., of the Four Noble Truths. The Buddhism here presented does not deny the existence of truth outside its own system. Hence I have made comparative reference in the thesis to other systems of thought which have profound similarities with Buddhism. This is particularly true of the scepticism of David Hume and the insights of modern existentialist thinkers such as Jean Paul Satre. I have concluded that Buddhism is philosophy rather than psychology, practical religion rather than theoretical religion and that its value is related to contemporary need rather than to mere historical analysis. Buddhism is speculative philosophy leading one toward freedom by working on the elements of the causal chain and culminating in the destruction of bondage and the winning of freedom.

Text

2010-02-21

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/20698

Religious Studies

University of British Columbia

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