The Wise One in the PrasannapadÄ - McMaster University

[Pages:100]TIlE WISE ONE IN THE PRASANNAPMaA

THE ~VISE ONE IN THE PRASANNAPADA

By

MARK WARRICK, B.A.

A Thesis Subnitted to the School of Graduate Studies

in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts

McMaster University (Hay) 1983

Haster of Arts (1983) (Religious Studies)

Tr=LE:

The Hise One in the Prasannapada

AG"THOR:

Mark ~'larrick

S,;;?ERVISOR: Professor J.G. Arapura

lfu~ER OF PAGES:

xv, 85

McMaster University Hamilton. Ontario

B.A. (BroCk University)

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ABSTRACT This study examines the notion of the wise one in the Prasannapada, a seventh century Indian Buddhist text, with the aim of clari'fying the special posiHon of those wi*e in the Buddhist way' in the context of M'adhyamika thought. It will be shown that the wise one, according to Nagarjuna and candrak!'rti, has cultivated an extraordinary awareness of the real, of man's propensity toward mistaking the epithets of ordinary language for the real, and of his own ability to appreciate the truth of things by overcoming the limitations of conventional thought.

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??? paramartha'parapratyayaQ ~antav pratyatmavedya arya~~ sarvaprapafkatItal:.!, sa nopadisyate ~ capi jnayate ???

candrakTrti ( ???what is higher or surpassing is not dependent on anything other than itself, it is at peace, it is known in and through itself by the wise; it is beyond the wor1d of named things ~s such; it cannot be demonstrated nor even cognized.)

(as translated by. ft. Sprung)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

aim of this study; principal texts used; "the wise one" defined; its meaning in the vajracchedika and Lankavatara; structure of this study

CONCERNS rum AIHS OF THE TEXT origin, subject~atter and ultimate concern of l'Jagarjuna' s treatise; pratTtyasamutpada delusive for wise one; duality of name and named; Madhyamika not nihilism; higher truth a matte~ of silence for the wisej Madhyamika and praj~a; wise do not offer" reasoned account of the \-Torldj wise do not particular things as self-existent

THE DENIAL OF HOTION

motion unintelligible; language of the wise; ultimately no motion for the wise

THE CRITIQUE OF VISION AIm THE OTHER SENSES

vision unintelligible; components of perceptual experience are interdependent, not self-existent: what the wise discern in meditation; non-assertive attitude of the wise

CONCERNING THE SKANDHAS

skandhas also unintelligible; wise one sees things as ~ley really are jnon-assertion restated

AN EXAMINATIOrJ OF DESIRE

desire an affliction, but only conditionally real; critique of notion of desire; desire not perceived as such by the wise

MENTAL EVENTS

contents of the mind are delusive; on the appearance of change; sGnyata for the wise; ~Unyata not a view

SVl\BHAVA (SELF-E.,{ISTENCE)

self-existence and the wise; i the "world of the wise" : no self-existence of particular things; svabhava reinterpreted; prajKaptis and the wise; validity of tlle teaching of the Buddhas; sUnyat~ and meditation; the yogI does not say anything in the text ? the wise and tattva

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20 25

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SELF (A'l'Z,1AN)

atman and the afflictions; y~ does away with

L~e self; self not skandhas, nor wholly other than them; wise one does not exist factually; validity of notion of the wise one relative to ultimate concern of the text

To;?;] TRUTHS, FOUR TRUTHS

~-yasatya as truths for the wise; purpose of sUnyata; two truths implicit in teaching of the 3uddhas; higher truth known by the wise; the wise one characterized at length; samVfti and the wise; para.ntartha and the wise

SUI-NARY / CONCLUSIO.1S

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

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INTRODUCTION

This paper is intended to be an exegesis of the notion of the wise one in the Prasannapada, a seventh century Indian Buddhist text whose author, Candrakirti, sought to give a faithful exposition of the philosophy of the Hiddle ?lay as presented in the m.etred couplets (karikas) of the HulamadhYaIr.a." ................
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