Language as an Instrument of Soteriological Transformation from the Madhyamaka Perspective
2014; Routledge; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/09552367.2014.984484
ISSN1469-2961
Autores Tópico(s)Chinese history and philosophy
ResumoBuddhist teachings and practices can be viewed as a journey of soteriological transformation, where language, as a tool for the analysis of views, occupies a place of special significance and importance. This article examines how the concept of non-duality, from the Madhyamaka perspective, has served as a powerful rhetorical device with the explicit aim of fostering soteriological transformation. Among the various expressions representative of the Madhyamaka perspective, two are particularly explored in this article for their facilitation of soteriological transformation: the expression of ‘neither a dharma nor a not-dharma’ (na sa dharmo nâdharmaḥ) and the teaching that ‘one should let go even of dharmas, still more so not-dharmas’ (dharmāḥ eva prahātavyāḥ prāg evâdharmāḥ). I argue that the Madhyamaka expression of ‘neither A nor not-A’ is hardly ever just about conforming to any linguistic conventions. It is about gaining liberation from linguistic conventions and unexamined remarks.
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