Buddhism

Cyrus Panjvani is Associate Professor of Philosophy at MacEwan University.

Preface

I Indian Contexts



General Themes of the Indian Philosophical Tradition
A Short Account of the Vedas and Upanishads
The Philosophy of the Upanishads
The Identity of Brahman and Atman

II The Legend and Life of the Buddha



Introduction
The Early Life
The Four Signs
Renunciation

III Reading the Middle Way



Steering the Middle Course
A Symbolic Reading
Concluding Remarks

IV The First Noble Truth: Three Understandings of Suffering



Introduction
Pervasiveness and Eliminability
The First Understanding
The Second Understanding
The Third Understanding
The Five Aggregates
The Buddha and David Hume
Concluding Remarks

V The Second Noble Truth: An Analysis of Craving



Introduction
Craving and Permanence
Craving and Wanting — A Difference in Kind
The Character of Craving — Qualitative Observations
The Character of Craving — Formal Observations
Criticism of Bahm
Self and Suffering

VI The Third Noble Truth: Nirvana, the Cessation of Suffering



Introduction
Samsara
Understanding and Describing Nirvana

VII The Fourth Noble Truth: Walking the Noble Eightfold Path



Introduction
The Noble Eightfold Path
More on Mindfulness

VIII The Doctrine of No Self



Introduction
The Argument from the Aggregates
A Lute, a Chariot and the Composite Self
The Argument from Lack of Control

IX The Doctrine of Impermanence



Introduction
Arising and Passing
Other Views of Change
Numerical Identity and Qualitative Identity
Annihilationism and Eternalism
Concluding Remarks

X The Doctrine of Dependent Origination



Introduction
The First Model: Physical Causation
The Second Model: Mental Causation without Universal Causation
The Third Model: Mental Causation with Universal Causation
The Importance of Universal Causation
Dependent Origination and Causal Continuity

XI Karma and Rebirth: Continuity, Not Identity



Introduction
Karma and Morality
Karma and Rebirth
Continuity of Self over Time, Not Identity

XII The Concept of Dharmas in the Abhidharma



The Abhidharma, the Dharma, and Dharmas
Dharmas and Atoms
Dharmas as Ultimate Reality
Dharmas and Mindfulness
What Is the Duration of a Dharma?

XIII The Concept of Emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism



Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism
The Perfection of Wisdom and Emptiness
Emptiness and Dependent Origination
Emptiness and Non-Duality
Emptiness and Enlightenment

XIV Compassion and Skillfulness in Mahayana Buddhism



Introduction
The Bodhisattva
The Bodhisattva Renounces
Compassion and Suffering
Genuine Compassion
Skillful Means, the Arhat and the Bodhisattva
An Emphasis on Practice over Belief

XV The Parable of the Burning House — A Closing Discussion

Glossary of Select Sanskrit, Pali and PhilosophicalTerms
Bibliography
Index