Metaphor and Literalism in Buddhism: The doctrinal history of nirvana

177 Pages·2012·1.704 MB·English

by  Soonil Hwang

METAPHOR AND LITERALISM
IN BUDDHISM
The notion of nirvana originally used the image of extinguishing a fire.
Although the attainment of nirvana, ultimate liberation, is the focus of the
Buddha’s teaching, its interpretation has been a constant problem toBuddhist
exegetes, and has changed in different historical and doctrinal contexts. The
concept is so central that changes in its understanding have necessarily
involved much larger shifts in doctrine.
This book studies the doctrinal development of the Pali nirvana and sub-
sequent tradition and compares it with the Chinese Agama and itstraditional
interpretation. It clarifies early doctrinal developments of nirvana and traces
the word and related terms back to their original metaphorical contexts.
Thereby, it elucidates diverse interpretations and doctrinal andphilosophical
developments in the abhidharma exegeses and treatises of Southern and
Northern Buddhist schools. Finally, the book examines which school, ifany,
kept the original meaning and reference of nirvana.
Soonil Hwang is Assistant Professor in the Department of IndianPhilosophy
at Dongguk University, Seoul. His research interests are focused upon early
Indian Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy and Sectarian Buddhism.
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A SURVEY OF VINAYA PAIN AND ITS ENDING
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Charles S. Prebish
EMPTINESS APPRAISED
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AWARENESS
THE SOUND OF LIBERATING
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THE GLORIOUS DEEDS OF
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EARLY BUDDHISM – A NEW
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IN DEFENSE OF DHARMA DISCOURSE AND IDEOLOGY IN
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Torkel Brekke
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EARLY BUDDHIST METAPHYSICS
Noa Ronkin
MIPHAM’S DIALECTICS AND THE DEBATES ON EMPTINESS
Karma Phuntsho
HOW BUDDHISM BEGAN
Richard F. Gombrich
BUDDHIST MEDITATION
Sarah Shaw
REMAKING BUDDHISM FOR MEDIEVAL NEPAL
Will Tuladhar-Douglas
METAPHOR AND LITERALISM IN BUDDHISM
Soonil Hwang
METAPHOR AND
LITERALISM IN
BUDDHISM
The doctrinal history of nirvana
Soonil Hwang
First published 2006
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2006 Soonil Hwang
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2006.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Hwang, Soonil, 1968–
Metaphor and literalism in Buddhism : the doctrinal history of
nirvana / Hwang, Soonil.
p. cm. — (Routledge critical studies in Buddhism)
Includes translations from Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese.
‘Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies.’
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Nirvana. 2. Buddhism—Doctrines—History.
I. Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies.
II. Title.
III. Series.
BQ4263.H83 2006
294.3′423—dc20
2005036655
ISBN10: 0-415-35550-8 (hbk) ISBN13: 978-0-415-35550-6 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0-203-00193-1 (ebk) ISBN13: 978-0-203-00193-6 (ebk)
FOR DONGJE
MY ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE DAUGHTER
Allie
CONTENTS
List of figures and tables x
Preface xi
List of abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
PART 1
The doctrinal development of nirvana in early Indian Buddhism 7
1 Nirvana and its reference 9
2 The two nirvana theory in the early canon 14
3 Developments of the two nirvana theory 36
4 Nirvana in the Theravada Buddhist tradition 50
5 Nirvana in Northern Buddhist schools 77
6 Conclusion 106
PART 2
Annotated translations of the related texts in Pali, Sanskrit
and Chinese 113
Selected sources for the nirvana concept and the two
nirvana theory 115
Notes 126
Bibliography 153
Index 158
ix