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Two Truths Talks
The Buddhist doctrine of the two truths (Sanskrit: dvasatya, Wylie: bden pa gnyis) differentiates between two levels of satya (Sanskrit; Pāli: sacca; meaning "truth" or "reality") in the teaching of Śākyamuni Buddha: the "conventional" or "provisional" (saṁvṛti) truth, and the "absolute" or "ultimate" (paramārtha) truth.
The exact meaning varies between the various Buddhist schools and traditions. The best known interpretation is from the Mādhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, whose founder was the 3rd-century Indian Buddhist monk and philosopher Nāgārjuna. For Nāgārjuna, the two truths are epistemological truths. The phenomenal world is accorded a provisional existence. The character of the phenomenal world is declared to be neither real nor unreal, but logically indeterminable. Ultimately, all phenomena are empty (śūnyatā) of an inherent self or essence due to the non-existence of the self (anātman), but temporarily exist depending on other phenomena (pratītya-samutpāda).
In Chinese Buddhism, the Mādhyamaka thought is accepted, and the two truths doctrine is understood as referring to two ontological truths. Reality exists in two levels, a relative level and an absolute level. Based on their understanding of the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, the Chinese Buddhist monks and philosophers supposed that the teaching of the Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha) was, as stated by that Sūtra, the final Buddhist teaching, and that there is an essential truth above emptiness (śūnyatā) and the two truths.
The doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā) is an attempt to show that it is neither proper nor strictly justifiable to regard any metaphysical system as absolutely valid. The two truths doctrine doesn't lead to the extreme philosophical views of eternalism (or absolutism) and annihilationism (or nihilism), but strikes a middle course (madhyamāpratipada) between them.
Title | Speaker | |
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GGF-Samadhi PP Sesshi Heart Sutra, Impermanence, Two Truths, Avalokiteshvara, Abhidharma |
Apr 13 2002 |
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GGF-Samadhi PP Sesshi Impermanence, Mindfulness, Two Truths, Samadhi, Four Noble Truths |
Apr 12 2002 |
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GGF-Samadhi PP Four Noble Truths, Beginners, Two Truths, Samadhi |
Apr 03 2002 |
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Embracing Impermanence Through Non-Expectation Impermanence, Desire, Dragons, Two Truths, Happiness |
Aug 09 2001 |
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Presence Beyond Duality in Zen Right Effort, Duality, Four Noble Truths, Two Truths, Nirvana |
Dec 14 1996 |
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1995.12.20-ZMC Two Truths, Practice Period |
Dec 20 1995 |
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Embracing Dual Truths in BuddhismSerial: RA-00766 Class Evil, Four Noble Truths, Two Truths, Practice Period |
Nov 19 1995 Tassajara |
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Unity in Emptiness and Compassion Two Truths, Passions, Oneness, Buddha Mind, Lotus Sutra |
Nov 04 1995 |
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Madhyamika and Mahayana Dependent Origination, confusion, Two Truths, Conversation |
Feb 19 1991 4 |
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Engage Buddhism: Beyond Intellectual Boundaries Two Truths, Discrimination, Obstacles, Four Noble Truths |
Apr 05 1988 |