Expert: Justin Choo - 5/8/2006

Question
I have a few questions I hope you can help.

1. Can you explain what it means when nagarjuna says that all things are empy

2. I am having trouble translating the argument in Mulamadhyamakarika XX concerning cause and effect. I also dont know how that has anything to do with emptiness.

3. Also what is the significance of the doctrine of emptiness in obtaining liberaion.

4. How can you prove that the a part of the way to become enlightened is to realize there is no ultimate truth to the way the world works.  

Answer
Brandie,

Thank you for asking me.

I am more into the practical aspect of Buddhism, that is to say , how to live a peaceful and harmless life; how to reduce our greed, hatred, and delusion.  But I shall make a few comments on your queries.

1. I do not know what Nagarjuna actually wrote.  It would be better if we study what the Buddha said.  Whatever Nagarjuna might have written, if it was the Buddha's teachings, then we can go back to the source, that is, the Buddha's teachings.  In term of "emptiness", in the final  analysis of all component things which exist only subject to conditions, then all things in the universe are empty.  They depend on conditions  in order to exist.  Without conditions, they do not exist....emptiness. This is explained in the concept of "dependent origination". In terms of "anatta" the Buddha explained that there was no permanent unchanging soul.  It is the continuum of consciousness that takes birth after birth, with a flux of "personality" brought forward by the accumulated kamma.  This stream of life was described by the Buddha as "na ca so, na ca anno", meaning, not exactly the same and yet not completely different.  In the end there is no substance in everything, the concept of "sunyatta"..."emptiness".

2.I can't locate Chap XX.  But if it is to do with cause and effect, most probably it is about "dependent origination".  Then the above paragraph is the answer.

3.The Buddha taught us to SEE things as they really are.  In the final anaysis, the ultimate truth, that everything is without substance, nothing really exists.  It is our wrong perception of things that we think they are real.  They are all illusions, deceived by our limited sense organs and our ignorance. The significance is that once we realize the real nature of things, we understand life and existence as they trully are; and become wise to live our lives with the natural order of things, and not against nature or wanting to change nature.  By living a harmless  and contented life, we can then become peaceful and happy.

4. There is actually this "conventional" truth that the real world exists....it exists because of conditions.  Without condition...the unconditioned is Nibbana.  There is nothing to prove in the name of Buddhism.  It is the practice and experience that counts.


Smile from justinchoo :-)     

(I think you are referring to the article in Wikipedia)