Absolute in this case meant 'totally unconditional'.Hereandnow wrote: ↑January 4th, 2018, 10:29 amI would like to see some of this unpacked. What does absolute mean? And nothingness? Self? I like to consider myself something of a Buddhist, but these terms muddy the water as they all require disambiguation. A self? This needs analysis. Is it a personality? An empirical self, evolved in the pragmatic dynamics of a society? Is it the Rational self of structured thought and logic? Is a temporally transient self always "in flight" as Sartre put it, that needs deliverance" Is it an abstract self, or a fragmented self (husband, and teacher, and PTA member and so on)?Nothingness? Same kind of questions.Spectrum:
Buddhism-proper claims the following nihilistic views;
1. There is no intrinsic meaning and purpose of life In the absolute sense.
2. The is no permanent self - anatta
3. Reality is nothingness or emptiness - Sunyata.
But in the relative sense, Buddhism proper claims
1. There is intrinsic meaning and purpose of life in the relative sense.
2. The is an empirical self
3. Reality is somethingness in the empirical sense.
This is why I don't pay much attention to Buddhist metaphysics. Not very helpful; but on the other hand, Buddhism, simply put, the cessation of attachments so allow something profound within to rise up: this is, and has been, far, far ahead of its time.
Nothingness [Sunyata] and no true self:
There is only the empirical self which can be verified empirically by oneself and others intersubjectively.The Buddha taught the doctrine of “dependent arising” (pratityasamutpada) which sees the world as fundamentally interconnected. He also taught that the world is in a constant state of flux, and that there is no true self. The “I” which we experience is in reality the result of the temporary unity of different physical and mental processes (anatta).
Nagarjuna understands the world’s transient and impermanent nature to mean that nothing has its own essence or independent existence. Everything is “empty” (sunyata) in so far as it depends on other things in order to exist. For example, a table can only be said to exist in so far as four pieces of wood are connected to a base. If the legs are taken off, it is no longer a table. Therefore, it has no independent existence.
- Is it a personality? An empirical self, evolved in the pragmatic dynamics of a society? Is it the Rational self of structured thought and logic? Is a temporally transient self always "in flight" as Sartre put it, that needs deliverance" Is it an abstract self, or a fragmented self (husband, and teacher, and PTA member and so on)?
The empirical self is 'yes' to all the above questions.
There is no permanent self [soul] that survives physical death.
Buddhism is more about 'doing' [Right Action] [Right Concentration] [Right Mindfulness] based right thinking [Right View and Thought], i.e. one must act to rewire the brain for the better to optimize one's well-being against all known constraints.