The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana with Sanskrit Text of Madhyamaka-Karika (Hardcover Edition)

by Theodore Stcherbatsky

The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana provides an English translation of Nagarjuna's chapters on Causality and Nirvana, Chandrakirti's comprehensive commentary on the Sanskrit Text, and presents a rare exposition of the Madhyamaka Dialectic.

The book is edited by Jaideva Singh with an exhaustive introduction, containing the historical background of the Madhyamaka philosophy, a lucid exposition of its merciless logic, an admirable presentation of its uncanny metaphysics and a systematic account of its soteriology and Buddhology.

The editor has also provided an Analysis of Contents and has added the portions of the text, and the Sanskrit commentary on the basis of which Stcherbatsky wrote out his book, enabling the reader to make a comparative study of Stcherbatsky's version with the Original Sanskrit.

About the Author:

Theodore Stcherbatsky (1866-1942) is a pioneering scholar of Buddhist Studies and has written, edited and translated several works like Nyayabindu, Abhisamayalamkara Prajnaparamitopadesa Sastra, Buddhist Logic (2 Vols.), The Central Conception of Buddhism, Erkenntnistheorie and Logic, nqch der Lehre der Spateren Buddhisten.

Contents

Part I

Introduction

Mahayana and Hinayana	1
Three phases in Budhism	2
Madhyamaka Sastra : Life of Nagarjuna and Aryadeva	3
The Original Sources of Mahayana	7
The Madhyamaka Works and Schools	11
The Madhyamaka Dialectic : Its Origin, Structure and Development	14
Positive Contribution of Nagarjuna	20
Distinction between Hinayana and Mahayana	22
Main features of Madhyamaka Philosohy	36
Analysis of Contents
Preliminary	61
Mystic Intuition (Yogi-Pratyaksa)	63
Buddha's belief in personal Immortality	64
Was Buddha an Agnostic	64
The Position of the later Schools of Hinayana	64
The Double Character of the Absolute	65
The Vaibhasikas	66
The Sautrantikas	67
The Yogacaras	67
The Madhyamikas	68
The Doctrine of Causality in the Hinayana	69
The Doctrine of Relativity	70
The Real Eternal Buddha	70
The New Conception of Nirvana	70
Is relativity itself reality?	71
Parallel Developments in Buddhism and Brahmanism	72
European Parallels	72
The Position of Nyaya-Vaisesika	73
Conclusion	75
A Treatise on Relativily	76
Prefatory	78
Examination of Causality	78
Preliminary	78
The Meaning of Pratitya-Samutpada	78
The Meaning of this Term in Hinayana	78
The Hinayanist Interpretation rejected	79
The Opinion of Bhavaviveka refuted	79
Bhavaviveka's Criticism Unsound	79
The Definition of the term by Bhavaviveka	79
The Principle of Reality : The Law of all Pluralistic existence	80
Causality Denied	80
Identity of Cause and Effect Denied	80
Bhavaviveka assails the Comment of Buddhapalita	80
The First Objection of Bhavaviveka Answered	81
The Second Point of Bhavaviveka Rejected	81
The Madhyamika Method Explained Buddhapalita's Comment Vindicated from the Standpoint of Formal Logic	81
The Answer of the Sankhya Virtually Repudiated by Buddhapalita	82
Some Minor Points Explained	82
The Third Stricture of Bhavaviveka Answered. The Denial of one View does not imply the Acceptance of the contrary	82
Examination of Bhavaviveka's Formal Argument Against The Sankhya	83
Bhavaviveka's Argument Assailed From the Standpoint of Formal Logic	83
Another Attempt of Bhavaviveka to Vindicate His Argument	83
Bhavaviveka Also Avails Himself of the Argument That for the Monist All Individual Existence is Unreal	84
Another Formal Error in the Syllogism of Bhavaviveka	85
The Madhyamika Repudiates His Opponent on Principles Admitted by Him	85
Logical Refutation on The Basis of Facts Admitted By Only One Party	85
Denial of Causality Through Separate Substance	85
Combined Causality Denied	86
No Pluralistic Universe Without Causation	86
Causality Through The Will Of God	86
Mahayana And Hinayana Contrasted	86
The Direct And Indirect Meaning of Buddha's Words	87
How Is The Moral Law To Be Vindicated in An Unreal World ?	87
The Twelve Membered Causal Series Refers To the Phenomenal World	88
Controversy About the Validity of Logic	88
Controversy with The Buddhist Logician Continued	89
Critique of the Notion of AN Absolute Particular Point-instant	89
Introspection	90
The Discussion About The Point-instant Resumed	90
Is There A Cogniser ?	91
Vindication of Phenomenal Reality	91
The Definition of Sense Perception	92
The Hinayana Theory of Causation Examined	92
The Existence of Separate Energies Denied	93
Causation Is Not Co-ordination	93
The Cause-Condition	94
The Object-A Condition of Mental Phenomena	94
The Cause Materials Denied	95
The Special Cause Also Denied	95
Examination of Nirvana
The Hinayanistic Nirvana Rejected	96
The Mahayanistic Nirvana	96
Nirvana Not As Ens (a particular existing entity)	97
Nirvana is not Non-Ens (non-existing entity)	97
Nirvana Is The World Viewed Sub specie Aeternitatis	98
Nirvana Is Not Both Ens And Non-Ens together	98
Nor Is Nirvana A negation of Both Ens And Non-Ens Together	99
The Real Buddha, What?	99
Ultimate Identity of The Phenomenal And The Absolute	99
The Antimonies	99
Conclusion	100
Part II
Preliminary	1
Buddhism And Yoga	2
Mystic Intuition (Yoga-Pratyaksa)	18
Buddha's Belief In Personal Immoratality	23
Was Buddha An Agnostic?	24
The Position of The Later Schools of The Hinayana	26
The Double Character of The Absolute	30
The Vaibhasikas	31
The Sautrantikas	34
The Yogacaras	36
The Madhyamikas	41
The Doctrine of Causality In The Hinayana	45
This Doctrine Modified In Mahayana	47
The Doctrine of Relativity	48
The Real Eternal Buddha Cognised In Mystic Intuition	51
The New Conception of Nirvana	53
Is Relativity Itself Relative ? Condemnation of All Logic For The Cognition of The Absolute	57
Parallel Developments In Buddhism And Brahmanism	59
European Parallels	59
The Position of Nyaya-Vaisesika	62
Conclusion	69
APPENDIX	72
Nagarjuna's Treatise On Relativity	72
Prefatory	72
Dedication	77
Chapter I
Examination of Causality	78
Chapter XXV
Examination of Nirvana	81
A Comment Upon Nagarjuna's Treatise On Relativity By Chandrakirti	85
Examination of Causality	87
Preliminary	87
The Meaning of Pratitya Samutpada According To The Author	89
The Meaning Of This Term In Hinayana	90
The Hinayanist Interpretation Rejected	90
The Opinion Of Bhavaviveka	91
Bhavaviveka's Criticism Of Buddhapalita's Comment	92
The Definition Of The Term By Bhavaviveka	93
The Principle Of Relativity The Law Of All Pluralistic Existence	94
Causality Denied	97
Identity Of Cause And Effect Denied	98
Bhavaviveka Assails The Comment of Buddhapalita	99
The First Objection Of Bhavavieka Answered	99
The Second Point Of Bhavaviveka Viz. That The Answer Of The Sankhya Is Left Unnoticed By Buddhapalita, Rejected	101
The Madhyamika Method Explained	103
Buddhapalita's Comment Vindicated Form The Standpoint of Formal Logic	104
The Answer Of The Sankhya Virtually Repudiated by Buddhapalita	106
Some Minor Points Explained	107
The Third Stricture of Bhavaviveka Answered The Denial Of One View Does Not Imply The Acceptance Of the Other	108
Examination Of the Bhavaviveka's Formal Argument Against the Sankhya	111
Bhavaviveka's Argument Assailed Form The Standpoint Of Formal Logic	113
Another Attempt Of Bhavaviveka To Vindicate His Argument	114
Bhavaviveka Also Avails Himself Of The Argument The For The Monist All Individual Existence Is Unreal	118
Another Formal Error In The Syllogism Of Bhavaviveka	122
The Madhyamika Repudiates His Opponent On Priciples Admitted As Valid BY The Same Opponent	123
Logical Reputation On The Basis Of Facts Admitted by Only One Party	124
Denial Of Causality Through A Separate Substance	125
Combined Causality Denied	127
No Pluralistic Universe Without Causation	127
Causality Through The Will Of God	128
Mahayana And Hinayana Contrasted	129
The Direct And Indirect Meaning Of Buddha's Words	132
How Is The Moral Law To Be Vindicated In An Unreal World	133
The Twelve Membered Causal Series Refers To The Phenomenal World	140
Controversy About The Validity Of Logic	142
Controversy With The Buddhist Logician Continued	147
Critique Of The Notion Of An Absolute Particular Point-Instant	150
Introspection	152
The Discussion About The Point-Instant Resumed	154
Is There A Cogniser	156
Vindication Of Phenomenal Reality	158
The Definition Of The Sense Perception	165
The Hinayana Theory Of Causation Examined	174
Existence of Separate Energies Denied	177
Causation Is not co-ordination	179
Cause Condition	181
Object-a Condition of mental phenomena	182
Cause materials denied	184
Special cause denied	186
Examination Of Nirvana	193
Mahayanistic Nirvana, What?	196
Nirvana not an Ens	200
Nirvana a Non-Ens	203
Nirvana is This World Viewed	205
Nirvana not both Ens and non-Ens	209
Nirvana not a negation of both Ens and non-Ens	211
Real Buddha What?	213
Ultimate Identity of the phenomenal and the Absolute	215
Antinomies	215
Conclusion	218
Part III
Madhyamaka Sastra of Nagarjuna  Sanskrit Text With the Commentary Prasannapada of Acarya Candrakirti	1-51
Pratyaya pariksa	1
Nirvana pariksa	39
Part IV
Index To The Introduction	1
Index To Stcherbatsky's Text	5
Index To Subjects