Expert: Justin Choo - 2/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, back again ^_^. Hope you don't mind, but I have been reading several
books about buddhism, and I have come across something that I do not quite
understand.

Does Buddhism claim an absolute truth? Namely, something contradictory to
the viewpoint of solipsism? You see, I have heard from some that the
absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth... and yet, is nirvana not the
ultimate truth, the final destination? What can nirvana be, if not an absolute
truth? And yet, if it is an absolute truth, how can one be sure?

I am a very strong solipsist, you see, and I do not believe in such things. I see
the world not as a painting, that one must peel like an union to finally see,
but rather as a blank sheet of paper, which one may draw what he wishes on.
All things are relative, and, in the words of Siddhartha (from Herman Hesse's
book), "for every truth, the opposite truth of it is also true".

But if there is indeed no absolute truth, then this brings up questions such as;
what is anatta? Or Karma? Re-birth? Are they not conventional truths, not
absolute, but mental formations? Thoughts, transitory?

And my last, final question - is nirvana not a thought? Is it not of the
aggregates (for, if it is not, how can we possibly experience or know it?), and
so dukkha? You see, I have come to the conclusion that since we are in
essence dukkha, that anything and everything that we may experience must
be as such. There is nothing within this lifetime and within this form that we
can see, understand, etc, that is not transitory and impermanent, for we
ourselves are transitory and not permanent.

What then is nirvana, if not a thought, mental formation, sensation, or
perception? How can wisdom be separate from these?

ANSWER: Hi Nicolaas,

Welcome back.  Thought I'd never "see" you again!!

Quite frankly, this is the first time I come across the term "solipsism".  So I looked up Wikepedia @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism which explains:

"Solipsism is the philosophical idea that "My mind is the only thing that I know exists." Solipsism is an epistemological or ontological position that knowledge of anything outside the mind is unjustified. The external world and other minds cannot be known and might not exist. In the history of philosophy, solipsism has served as a skeptical hypothesis."

If this is the case; then how sure are you that this mind exists?  Can you see this "mind", feel this "mind", or whatever?

My spiritual teacher told us this joke about "mind":
What is this "I"?  Body and mind.
What is this "mind"? No body.
What is this "body"? Never mind!

I shall not attempt to answer your question directly, but would like to make some comments.

Buddhism never claims anything, except to put forward the information of this existence and the universe as explained by the Buddha.  It is up to the individuals to study them carefully and decide for themselves whether to accept them or not.  As I said I didn't know who this Herman Hesse was.  I did suggest to you to surf through some Buddhist websites notably www.buddhanet.net which is the mother of all Buddhist websites.  You would find a lot of info there, and all the links to other sites.

<<There is nothing within this lifetime and within this form that we
can see, understand, etc, that is not transitory and impermanent, for we ourselves are transitory and not permanent.>>  You are right.

What then is Nirvana (Nibbana).  Below is my "copy and paste" answer.  I couldn't have provided a better answer myself.  I'm sorry I've lost the reference source so I can't give due acknowledge to the source:

"NIBBANA
This process of birth and death continues ad infinitum until this flux is transmuted, so to say, to Nibbana-dhatu, the ultimate goal of Buddhists.
The Pali word Nibbana is formed of Ni and Vana. Ni is a negative particle and Vana means lusting or craving. "It is called Nibbana, in that it is a departure from the craving which is called Vana, lusting."
Literally, Nibbana means non-attachment. It may also be defined as the extinction of lust, hatred and ignorance. "The whole world is in flames," says the Buddha. "By what fire is it kindled? By the fire of lust, hatred and ignorance, by the fire of birth, old age, death, pain, lamentation, sorrow, grief and despair it is kindled: It should not be understood that Nibbana is a state of nothingness or annihilation owing to the fact that we cannot perceive it with our worldly knowledge. One cannot say that there exists no light just because the blind man does not see it. In that well-known story, too, the fish arguing with his friend, the turtle, triumphantly concluded that there exists no land. Nibbana of the Buddhists is neither a mere nothingness nor a state of annihilation, but what it is no words can adequately express. Nibbana is a Dhamma which is "unborn, unoriginated, uncreated, and unformed." Hence it is eternal (dhuva), desirable (subha), and happy (sukha). In Nibbana, nothing is "eternalised", nor is anything "annihilated", besides suffering. According to the Books, references are made to Nibbana as Sopadisesa and Anupadisesa. These, in fact, are not two kinds of Nibbana, but the one single Nibbana, receiving its name according to the way it is experienced before and after death. Nibbana is not situated in any place nor is it a sort of heaven where a transcendental ego resides. It is a state which is dependent upon this body itself. It is an attainment (Dhamma) which is within the reach of all. Nibbana is a supramundane state attainable even in this present life. Buddhism does not state that this ultimate goal could be reached only in a life beyond. Here lies the chief difference between the Buddhist conception of Nibbana and the non-Buddhist conception of an eternal heaven attainable only after death or a union with a God or Divine Essence in an after-life. When Nibbana is realized in this life with the body remaining, it is called Sopadisesa Nibbana-dhatu. When an Arahat attains Parinibbana, after the disso-lution of his body, without any remainder of physical existence, it is called Anupadisesa Nibbana-dhatu. In the words of Sir Edwin Arnold:
"If any teach Nirvana is to cease Say unto such they lie.  If any teach Nirvana is to live
Say unto such they err." From a metaphysical standpoint, Nibbana is deliverance from suffering. From a psychological standpoint, Nibbana is the eradication of egoism. From an ethical standpoint, Nibbana is the destruction of lust, hatred and ignorance."


Take care.

Justin Choo







---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I believe you slightly misunderstood me with solipsism.

It is basically the denial of all absolute realities or truths. Basically that
nothing is necessarily objective and can be ascertained to be true. What I
personally believe (though this does not necessarily line up with solipsism) is
that reality is twofold, that for every truth, the converse can be and is also
true. In short - life is what you make of it, what you see it as.

Like a coin. While it is certainly impossible to have both sides of a coin facing
you at the same time (as it is impossible to accept two truths which are
opposite, and thus contradictory) both sides of the coin are still there, and
reality can simply be flipped over, and be perceived in a completely different
manner.

I have had my opinions changed so much - first I thought reality was real,
then at some point I became a nihilist (the thought that reality does not exist
at all), then I accepted reality yet again. I was once a deist, but I abandoned
that in favor of atheism. Not a few weeks ago I was convinced that I do not
exist, that I have no ego to distinguish myself from anything else with.
Struggling with that, I alternately believed that I did, and that I did not exist
for some time until my mind settled.

My question is - does buddhism (or the teachings of the buddha) claim that
there is only one side to reality, that there is an objective 'something', a truth
which can be found?

My previous opinion was that buddhism basically says this:

There are many truths, all of them as valid as any other, but this truth that we
put forth is the one which will bring the most happiness possible. It may not
be an absolute truth, the real nature of reality, but it is the description of
reality that will destroy all misery, suffering, and evil. It is the most desirable
reality, the ultimate truth because it brings ultimate and final peace.

Thanks for your time! I understood the part about nirvana, so I suppose that
what I am saying above is mostly related to things like re-birth, karma,
anatta, etc

Are they just opinions, or is there an absolute reality which they refer to?

Answer
Nicholaas,

I think you should let your mind rest awhile.  If you analyze too much on anything, you might end up more confused.  Let go a little.  Study the Buddha's teachings with an open-mind.  After some time, you will gradually find the answers.  

As for truths, the Buddha expounded the Four Noble Truths which you already knew.

Thanks for visiting.  Take care.

Justin Choo