I think physical reality itself is not necessarily an illusion, that's the persistent part, but what we project onto it certainly is. One of the earliest tenets of the Buddhist teachings is to "see things as they are", as impermanent, temporary and lacking in self, or independent existence, and to live accordingly. This means to live a very simple, spartan existence and focus on meditation. Clinging on to experiences and circumstances in our lives, positive or negative, and the additional layer of corresponding emotions we create around that is the root of suffering.
Interestingly, Plato also talks about this idea of "seeing things as they are" as the fundamental duty for seekers of wisdom. Lots of connections between and East and West.
Thanks for your comment! Are you familiar with the Buddhist teachings of emptiness? That is the real innovation that I don't think you see anywhere else, or at least no other philosophy that I'm aware of takes the via negativa approach as far.
I think the best introduction is the Diamond Sutra, which was one of the first and most famous Mahayana Buddhist scriptures to express these ideas. It's quite short, but you can listen to it on YouTube as an audiobook!
Basically emptiness is the philosophical position that nothing exists, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. It is total nihilism, taken to its most extreme extent.
It is a mindset that is so powerful because of how it fits into Buddhist soteriology. According to the Four Noble Truths the cause of suffering is attachment, but this attachment itself has a cause, which is conceptualisation. The Buddhist teachings recognise the fundamental disconnect between our mind that conceptualises, and grasps at solidity and a self, and the reality of a universe which in constant flux and characterised by impermanence, always changing. The root of suffering is attaching emotionally to things that are only really a snapshot of a moment in time, like a dream or an illusion.
It's pretty scary, as it leaves you basically staring into a gaping void. But emptiness is the door through which you pass into the religious, or you could say transcendental side of Buddhism. It is a philosophical method that is meant to break your conceptual mind and cut through to a pure vision of the ultimate reality, beyond this material world.
That's why this is called the diamond sutra, or in the Sanskrit, "Vajra Cutter Perfection of Wisdom Sūtra." Emptiness represents the unbreakable nature of consciousness abiding in the ultimate reality. It's the inspiration behind my name, adamantine, and the symbol I use, the vajra. 😊
I think physical reality itself is not necessarily an illusion, that's the persistent part, but what we project onto it certainly is. One of the earliest tenets of the Buddhist teachings is to "see things as they are", as impermanent, temporary and lacking in self, or independent existence, and to live accordingly. This means to live a very simple, spartan existence and focus on meditation. Clinging on to experiences and circumstances in our lives, positive or negative, and the additional layer of corresponding emotions we create around that is the root of suffering.
Thank you for your comment!
Interestingly, Plato also talks about this idea of "seeing things as they are" as the fundamental duty for seekers of wisdom. Lots of connections between and East and West.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for your comment! Are you familiar with the Buddhist teachings of emptiness? That is the real innovation that I don't think you see anywhere else, or at least no other philosophy that I'm aware of takes the via negativa approach as far.
Not sure, anything I could check out for more info?
I think the best introduction is the Diamond Sutra, which was one of the first and most famous Mahayana Buddhist scriptures to express these ideas. It's quite short, but you can listen to it on YouTube as an audiobook!
Basically emptiness is the philosophical position that nothing exists, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. It is total nihilism, taken to its most extreme extent.
It is a mindset that is so powerful because of how it fits into Buddhist soteriology. According to the Four Noble Truths the cause of suffering is attachment, but this attachment itself has a cause, which is conceptualisation. The Buddhist teachings recognise the fundamental disconnect between our mind that conceptualises, and grasps at solidity and a self, and the reality of a universe which in constant flux and characterised by impermanence, always changing. The root of suffering is attaching emotionally to things that are only really a snapshot of a moment in time, like a dream or an illusion.
It's pretty scary, as it leaves you basically staring into a gaping void. But emptiness is the door through which you pass into the religious, or you could say transcendental side of Buddhism. It is a philosophical method that is meant to break your conceptual mind and cut through to a pure vision of the ultimate reality, beyond this material world.
That's why this is called the diamond sutra, or in the Sanskrit, "Vajra Cutter Perfection of Wisdom Sūtra." Emptiness represents the unbreakable nature of consciousness abiding in the ultimate reality. It's the inspiration behind my name, adamantine, and the symbol I use, the vajra. 😊
Thanks will check it out!