Buddhism: A Philosophical Approach

330 Pages·2013·10.56 MB·English

by  Cyrus Panjvani

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“Buddhism: A Philosophical Approach is an excellent introduction to
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Buddhist philosophy. It includes a very lucid presentation not only of basic
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Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold
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Path, but also of such challenging concepts as emptiness and dependent a
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origination. The work focuses on a general overview of fundamental
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issues, but also explores in some depth the complexities involved in crucial a
questions such as the nature of desire and the critique of self-identity. I n
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highly recommend this work for introductory courses in Buddhist and
Asian philosophy.”
—John P. Clark, Loyola University New Orleans
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“Readers looking for a clear, concise, and accessible introduction to the u
basic tenets of Buddhism will find Panjvani’s book ideally suited to their d
needs. The book covers such quintessentially Buddhist notions as the
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Four Noble Truths, the No Self view of personal identity, and the causal
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principle of Dependent Arising. One of the book’s main strengths is its
systematic and meticulous use of examples drawn from both canonical i
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and contemporary sources to illustrate the pragmatic aspects of
Buddhist teachings. With just the right blend of doctrinal exposition and m
philosophical analysis, Buddhism: A Philosophical Approach offers general
audiences a useful resource for engaging Buddhist ideas in a critical and
effective way.” A

—Christian Coseru, College of Charleston P
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This book philosophically introduces the basic truths, doctrines, and o
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principles of Buddhism. Its goal is to explain the teachings of the Buddha o Buddhism
and of Buddhism clearly and consistently. Though the book treads beyond p
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the Buddha’s life, including into the Abhidharma and Mahayana traditions, i
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it remains throughout a philosophical discussion and elaboration of the a
Buddha’s thought. It is meant to be an accessible guide for those who have l
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no background in Buddhism, and to be beneficial to the philosophical p
a philosophical approach
understanding of those who do. p
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Cyrus Panjvani is Associate Professor of Philosophy at MacEwan University. c
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ISBN 978-1-55111-853-6
www.broadviewpress.com
Cover design: George Kirkpatrick
Cover: Detail of a mural in the Cyrus Panjvani
broadview press
Ajanta Caves, India.
broadview
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Buddhism
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Buddhism
A Philosophical Approach
Cyrus Panjvani
broadview press
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©2014 Cyrus Panjvani.
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval
system, without prior written consent of the publisher—or in the case of photocopying, a licence
from Access Copyright (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), One Yonge Street, Suite 1900,
Toronto, on m5e 1e5—is an infringement of the copyright law.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Panjvani, Cyrus, author
Buddhism : a philosophical approach / Cyrus Panjvani.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-55111-853-6 (pbk.)
1. Buddhist philosophy. I. Title.
b162.p35 2013 181'.043 C2013-907132-6
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For Lindsey and Lily, my bright lights
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Contents
Preface xi
I Indian Contexts 1
General Themes of the Indian Philosophical Tradition 1
A Short Account of the Vedas and Upanishads 6
The Philosophy of the Upanishads 9
The Identity of Brahman and Atman 11
II The Legend and Life of the Buddha 15
Introduction 15
The Early Life 16
The Four Signs 19
Renunciation 25
III Reading the Middle Way 29
Steering the Middle Course 29
A Symbolic Reading 33
Concluding Remarks 37
IV The First Noble Truth: Three Understandings of
Suffering 39
Introduction 39
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viii Buddhism: A Philosophical Approach
Pervasiveness and Eliminability 40
The First Understanding 43
The Second Understanding 45
The Third Understanding 48
The Five Aggregates 50
The Buddha and David Hume 57
Concluding Remarks 60
V The Second Noble Truth: An Analysis of Craving 63
Introduction 63
Craving and Permanence 65
Craving and Wanting – A Difference in Kind 67
The Character of Craving – Qualitative Observations 70
The Character of Craving – Formal Observations 73
Criticism of Bahm 77
Self and Suffering 81
VI The Third Noble Truth: Nirvana, the Cessation of
Suffering 84
Introduction 84
Samsara 86
Understanding and Describing Nirvana 89
VII The Fourth Noble Truth: Walking the Noble Eightfold
Path 97
Introduction 97
The Noble Eightfold Path 99
More on Mindfulness 106
VIII The Doctrine of No Self 109
Introduction 109
The Argument from the Aggregates 110
A Lute, a Chariot and the Composite Self 116
The Argument from Lack of Control 123
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Contents ix
IX The Doctrine of Impermanence 130
Introduction 130
Arising and Passing 131
Other Views of Change 137
Numerical Identity and Qualitative Identity 140
Annihilationism and Eternalism 143
Concluding Remarks 145
X The Doctrine of Dependent Origination 147
Introduction 147
The First Model: Physical Causation 151
The Second Model: Mental Causation without Universal
Causation 156
The Third Model: Mental Causation with Universal
Causation 161
The Importance of Universal Causation 164
Dependent Origination and Causal Continuity 168
XI Karma and Rebirth: Continuity, Not Identity 171
Introduction 171
Karma and Morality 173
Karma and Rebirth 176
Continuity of Self over Time, Not Identity 181
XII The Concept of Dharmas in the Abhidharma 195
The Abhidharma, the Dharma, and Dharmas 195
Dharmas and Atoms 198
Dharmas as Ultimate Reality 203
Dharmas and Mindfulness 209
What Is the Duration of a Dharma? 211
XIII The Concept of Emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism 219
Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism 219
The Perfection of Wisdom and Emptiness 223
Emptiness and Dependent Origination 232
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