rel201 notes
friday, march 15

final is wednesday at noon

Nagarjuna 150-250 AD- Mahayana philosopher
"reductio ad absurdum" method of argument
(reduce to an absurdity)- used to show contradictions in all concepts and reveal a transcendent truth. This was the precursor to Zen Buddhism.

"Buddha Nature" = Brahman

"samsara is nirvana"
Both samsara and nirvana are characterized as being empty- samsara is the emptiness of the endless cycle, and nirvana is empty because there is no content to the concept- we can't begin to comprehend what nirvana is.
"atman is brahman" is the same sort of concept.

Enlightenment is realizing the above truths.