Is Buddhist philosophy committed to some form of solipsism?

Discussion in 'Buddhism' started by afool, Aug 27, 2011.

  1. afool

    afool Member

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    Does Buddhism deny the existence of other minds??
    Some idea to share?
    Or some books to recommend?
    Thanks.
    Namaste.
     
  2. Cherea

    Cherea Senior Member

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    As far as solipsistic thought I could recommend Nietzsche.
     
  3. Chodpa

    Chodpa Senior Member

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  4. afool

    afool Member

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    Then, from the doctrine of shunyata, what exists?

     
  5. Chodpa

    Chodpa Senior Member

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    Doctrine of shunyata doesn't mean that nothing exists just that no thing has the definite quality or quantity for which it is ascribed. Thus things are empty of inherency. They exist but not ultimately.... In fact they exist in an asolipsistic fashion, that is, they exist through their relationships, though in no way do they exist in and of themselves. Ultimately if one traces back through spacetime all the rlelationships from which arose any thing, that thing is inherently empty of any intrinsic quality or quantity. Things, as well as people, even devas, should they exist, are all the opposite of solipsistic. They relay upon so many other things for their meaning and qualities that they truely do not have any specific meaning. It's the story of the elephant and the four blind mean. Each one feels a different part of the elephant and one feels an ear and says it's like a bat, another feels the trunk and says it's like a snake, and so on.
     
  6. MeAgain

    MeAgain Dazed & Confused Lifetime Supporter Super Moderator

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    In general:
    As everything is interrelated, nothing has an inherent existence; and nothing can exist on its own.
    Therefore, as everything is interrelated, there are no independent minds.
    Thus, we cannot state that there are other independent minds, as all minds rely on each other for their existence.
    Or conversely we could say that as everything is interrelated, other minds are needed to have something to relate to.

    Try:
    Watts, Alan W.
    , 1966. The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are. New York, New York: Collier Books.
    Also see the bibliography in the Buddhist section.
     

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