Buddhist Logic and Epistemology

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About the Book Buddhism is one of the world's largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana. The history of Buddhist logical and epistemological theories constitutes an interesting study for Buddhist religious scholars and philosophers. This volume contains scholarly essays, presented at a seminar, that make an in-depth study of Buddhist logical theory in the background of Buddhist epistemology. Scholars from different parts of the world combine historical and philological scholarship with philosophical acumen and linguistic insight to examine the issues relating to problems of inductive logic and the problem of meaning and the universals. They also address the crucial question regarding the relevance of logical theory to Buddhism, especially to the philosophical soteriology such as Madhyamika. Using both Tibetan and Sanskrit texts to delve deep into the logical issues and philosophical questions, they focus attention on two crucial philosophical concepts: trairupya or the triple character of evidence, and apoha - it's meaning as "exclusion". The history of Buddhist logical and epistemological theories constitutes an interesting study for Buddhist religious scholars and philosophers. This comprehensive book offers perspectives based on detailed study of ancient texts and their interpretations will prove an informative source for scholars of Indology, particularly those involved in Buddhist religion and philosophy.

About the Author Chandragupta Singh is a prominent scholar of Buddhist studies specializing in logic and epistemology. Singh's research illuminates Buddhist thought, offering insights into epistemological frameworks and their implications for philosophical inquiry and religious studies. His publications on Buddhist philosophical texts and epistemological frameworks have been widely cited in Buddhist studies literature, contributing to philosophical debates and religious studies.

Preface Buddhism is one of the world's largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana. Logic in Buddhist Philosophy concerns the systematic study of anumana (often translated as inference) as developed by Dignaga (480-540 c.e.) and Dharmakirti (600-660 c.e.). Buddhist logicians think of inference as an instrument of knowledge pram an. Buddhist logico-epistemology is a term used in Western scholarship to describe Buddhist systems of pramana (epistemic tool, valid cognition) and hetu-vidya (reasoning, logic). While the term may refer to various Buddhist systems and views on reasoning and epistemology, it is most often used to refer to the work of the "Epistemological school", i.e. the school of Dignaga and Dharmakirti which developed from the 5th through 7th centuries and remained the main system of Buddhist reasoning until the decline of Buddhism in India. The early Buddhist texts show that the historical Buddha was familiar with certain rules of reasoning used for debating purposes and made use of these against his opponents. He also seems to have held certain ideas about epistemology and reasoning, though he did not put forth a logico-epistemological system.

Introduction The Noble Eightfold Path is, in the Buddhist tradition as taught by the Buddha Shakyamuni, considered to be the way that leads to the end of suffering. It forms the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths, which are the most fundamental Buddhist teachings. The Noble Eightfold Path is essentially a practical guide of ethics, mental rehabilitation and mind deconditioning and is believed, by Buddhists, to result in an end to dukkha, or suffering, which is a goal that has informed and driven the entire Buddhist tradition since its inception 2500 years ago.