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Buddhist Metaphysics
DaltheJigsaw
Mountain View Veteran
The Buddha claims that nothing is truly permanent. Everything exists in dependence on something else. There are, however, some entities that are more fundamental than others, in the sense that they are not simply concepts. Staying close to the original teachings of the Buddha, we could here refer to skhandhas. Moving to abhidharma, we can say that only dharmas are fundamental entities (even though they exist only momentarily).
My question is this; are there different kinds of dharmas? Looking at the skhandhas we can see some kind of dualism; besides the rupa skhandha, the other four are obviously mental. For the dharmas, it looks to be the same; there is a different method to distinguish between a physical dharma or a non-physical dharma. We can not call this a substance dualism, because the dharmas should be regarded as qualities, and not as substances. Would we be right to call it another kind of dualism? Which different kind of entities does the buddhist claim to exist?
My question is this; are there different kinds of dharmas? Looking at the skhandhas we can see some kind of dualism; besides the rupa skhandha, the other four are obviously mental. For the dharmas, it looks to be the same; there is a different method to distinguish between a physical dharma or a non-physical dharma. We can not call this a substance dualism, because the dharmas should be regarded as qualities, and not as substances. Would we be right to call it another kind of dualism? Which different kind of entities does the buddhist claim to exist?
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Comments
Nama can be further divided into three categories, two of which are conditioned (arising due to past and present causes) and one which is unconditioned. These are consciousness (citta), mental factors or mental formations (cetasikas), and Nibbana.
These can also be further subdivided, such as 89 different types of citta, 52 different types of cetasikas, and 28 different types of rupa.
Nibbana is the one type of unconditioned reality as it doesn't have a beginning or an end, and does not experience anything although it can be directly experienced.
Therefore, it could be said that there are really four kinds of absolute realities:
1. (89 different types of) Consciousness
2. (52 different types of) Mental factors/formations
3. (28 different types of) Materiality
4. Nibbana
1. (89 different types of) Consciousness
2. (52 different types of) Mental factors/formations
3. (28 different types of) Materiality
4. Nibbana
Will do!:)
About 7 years ago I tried very hard to make sense of the Ahibdharma, I think I have the kind of philosophical mind and training to give it a good shot - but now I think it is an intractable tangle that has no simple or clear relation to the four noble truths, the eightfold path or the three foundations.
Dharma is a metaphysically rich and consistent set of interconnected truths.
I think the Ahibdharma is an appendage added hundreds and hundreds of years after the teachings of Buddha. I cannot imagine the Buddha taught Ahibdharma.
I could very well be wrong and would love to have the Ahibdharma explained to me if anyone can.
Salome