Epistemological Parallels between the Nikāyas and the Upaniṣads
Issued Date: 13 Jul 2012
Abstract
What does it mean to ‘know’ in the Nikāyas such that simply ‘knowing’ certain things ‘as they really are’ has the power to liberate one from saṃsāra? In an effort to characterize such ‘knowing’ while minimizing the pr ojection of modern-western pr esupp ositions, the pr esent paper expl ores parallels between concepts of transformational and liberating knowledge in the Nikāyas and the early Upaniṣads in an effort to identify epistemological pr esupp ositions curr ent in ancient India. The characterization is contrasted with modern-western common sense notions of factual knowledge in order to highlight features that we may tend to miss or to overl ook. It is arg ued that for the authors of both sets of literature, ordinary opinion is deluded while genuine knowledge holds directly effective power, and that transformative knowledge is a reflexive mode of comportment towards the known, concerned as much with relations as with the entities related. This understanding help s to acc ount for the transformative power of ‘knowledge’ and may have impl ications for the ways we interpr et central doctrines.
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References
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Evans, Stephen A. 2007. ‘Doubting the Kālāma Sutta: Epistemology, Ethics, and the “Sacred”’. Buddhist Studies Review 24(1): 91–107. doi:10.1558/bsrv.v24i1.91
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Evans, Stephen A. 2009. ‘Epistemology of the Brahmajāla Sutta’. Buddhist Studies Review 26(1): 67-84: doi: 10.1558/bsrv.v26i1.67.
Gombrich, Richard F. 2006. How Buddhism Began: The Conditioned Genesis of The Early Teachings. London: Routledge
Harvey, Peter. 2009. ‘The Four Ariya-saccas as “True Realities for the Spiritually Ennobled’ — the Painful, its Origin, its Cessation, and the Way Going to This — Rather than “Noble Truths” Concerning These’. Buddhist Studies Review 26(2): 187–227. doi: 10.1558/bsrv.v26i2.197
Horner, I. B., trans. 1989. The Middle Length Sayings (Majjhima-nikāya), vol. II. Oxford: The Pali Text Society.
Horner, I. B., trans. 1990. The Middle Length Sayings (Majjhima-nikāya), vol. III. Oxford: The Pali Text Society.
Keown, Damien. 1992. The Nature of Buddhist Ethics. London: Macmillan.
Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu, trans. 1975. The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) 3rd ed. Kandy; Buddhist Publication Society.
Olivelle, Patrick, trans. 1996. Upaniṣads. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Swearer, Donald K. 1972. ‘Two types of saving knowledge in the Pali suttas’. Philosophy East and West 22(4): 355–369: http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/donald.htm http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1397879
Tull, Herman W. 1990. The Vedic Origins of Karma, Cosmos as Man in Ancient Indian Myth and Ritual. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications.
Walshe, Maurice, trans. 1987. Thus Have I Heard: The Long Discourses of the Buddha (Dīgha-nikāya). London: Wisdom Publications.
Evans, Stephen A. 2007. ‘Doubting the Kālāma Sutta: Epistemology, Ethics, and the “Sacred”’. Buddhist Studies Review 24(1): 91–107. doi:10.1558/bsrv.v24i1.91
Evans, Stephen A. 2008. ‘Pāyāsi as Scientist: A Nikāyan Critique of Scientific Method’. Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Journal of Buddhist Studies, 1: 53–51: https://sites.google.com/site/accesstoacademicpapers/Home/buddhist-studies
Evans, Stephen A. 2009. ‘Epistemology of the Brahmajāla Sutta’. Buddhist Studies Review 26(1): 67-84: doi: 10.1558/bsrv.v26i1.67.
Gombrich, Richard F. 2006. How Buddhism Began: The Conditioned Genesis of The Early Teachings. London: Routledge
Harvey, Peter. 2009. ‘The Four Ariya-saccas as “True Realities for the Spiritually Ennobled’ — the Painful, its Origin, its Cessation, and the Way Going to This — Rather than “Noble Truths” Concerning These’. Buddhist Studies Review 26(2): 187–227. doi: 10.1558/bsrv.v26i2.197
Horner, I. B., trans. 1989. The Middle Length Sayings (Majjhima-nikāya), vol. II. Oxford: The Pali Text Society.
Horner, I. B., trans. 1990. The Middle Length Sayings (Majjhima-nikāya), vol. III. Oxford: The Pali Text Society.
Keown, Damien. 1992. The Nature of Buddhist Ethics. London: Macmillan.
Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu, trans. 1975. The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) 3rd ed. Kandy; Buddhist Publication Society.
Olivelle, Patrick, trans. 1996. Upaniṣads. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Swearer, Donald K. 1972. ‘Two types of saving knowledge in the Pali suttas’. Philosophy East and West 22(4): 355–369: http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/donald.htm http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1397879
Tull, Herman W. 1990. The Vedic Origins of Karma, Cosmos as Man in Ancient Indian Myth and Ritual. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications.
Walshe, Maurice, trans. 1987. Thus Have I Heard: The Long Discourses of the Buddha (Dīgha-nikāya). London: Wisdom Publications.
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