The Two Truths in Indian Buddhism

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In this exemplary exploration of a core philosophical subject within the Buddhist tradition, Sonam Thakchoe guides readers through the various Indian Buddhist philosophical schools and their perspectives on the two truths: ultimate and conventional truth. The book presents detailed arguments and analyses of each school's approach, highlighting their unique contributions to enhancing a Buddhist practitioner's understanding of reality. It illuminates the insights of prominent Indian Buddhist scholars such as Vasubandhu, Bhāvaviveka, Kamalaśīla, Dharmakīrti, Nāgārjuna, and Candrakīrti, revealing profound implications for modern practitioners and scholars alike. The Vaibhāṣika, Saūtrāntika, Yogācāra, and Madhyamaka schools create a framework for a continuum of philosophical debate that is more interrelated and complex than commonly assumed. The text illustrates how these schools build upon each other's findings, evolving from a belief in the realism of external phenomena to relinquishing commitments to realism regarding both external and internal realities. This engaging journey through philosophical approaches ultimately leads to an understanding of how conventional and ultimate truths—dependent arising and emptiness—are twin aspects of a single reality.