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Re: Nagarjuna an AlchemistFrom: rex
Subject: General
Date/Time 2006-06-18 19:20:55
Remote IP: 85.210.51.142
MessageHi Simon,
Come to think of it Nagarjuna wasn't the only Indian to have had a formative influence on Tibetan Buddhism, Atisha and Padmasambhava also come to mind (I'm sure there are others). Your skepticism receives an 'official' stamp of approval in the Kalama Sutra and by Shakaymuni himself ('be a light unto yourself')and I can readily appreciate how original thinking can be distorted and appropriated into all sorts of isms as license to free enquiry, especially in metaphysical matters, doesn't always go down too well.
Nagarjurna's notion of emptiness was unique to him and it became one of his great contributions to Buddhism along with his concepts of absolute and relative truth. I believe he converted to Buddhism from Brahminism so to wit on a conventional relative level he was a Buddhist: the four modes of existence being applied to concepts of absolute truth only and not relative truth, Nagarjuna could say without contradiction that he was a Buddhist because he would not be making this as an absolute statement on the nature of reality.
Does Krishniah Venkata Ramanen's book say anything how Nagarjuna's ideas have contributed to thought and practice outside Buddhism?
Yes indeed mind states are not the preserve of any one culture or approach. This is why I also find classificaton systems fascinating and hang around non-buddhist forums when I should be practicing :-)
Best regards,
Rex
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