Tenets Prasangika Madhyamaka (Definition/classification of phenomena/definition of the 2 truth)

Question 1

How are the Prasangika also called?

Answer 1

MIDDLE WAY
CONSEQUENTIALIST SCHOOL

Question 2

Definition of Prasangika

Answer 2

A proponent of entitylessness (somebody who accepts the emptiness of true existence = Prasangika and Svatantrika Madhyamaka), who does not accept anything that is established through self-characteristics (Svatantrika Madhyamka accept self characteristics) even on the conventional level.

Question 3

Name the main names in the Prasangika tenet holders

Answer 3

[Acharya] Buddhapalita, [Acharya] Chandrakirti and [Bodhisattva] Shantideva, [Acharya] Chandrakirti

Question 4

!!!! What do Prasangika not accept?

Answer 4

objective existence = intrinsic existence = inherent existence!
Nothing exists with their self characteristics, even on the conventional level, let alone the ultimate level!

Question 5

What are manifest and hidden phenomena for Prasangika?

Answer 5

a. Manifest phenomena:
a phenomenon, which can be cognized through the power of experience, without depending on reasons

b. Hidden phenomena:
a phenomenon, which needs to be cognized by dependence on reasons. 


Question 5

Prasangika classification of phenomena

Answer 5

1) a. Manifest phenomena:
b. Hidden phenomena:

2) The two truths

3) Ancillary topics

Question 6

Definition of the 2 truth

Answer 6

Prasangika and Cittamatra and Savatantrika Madhyamaka:
Define the 2 truth in the same way, even though they come in two different versions:
1. Version:
The object which a direct valid perceiver cognizes without the subject-object duality dissolving ==> ultimate truth

The object which a direct valid perceiver cognizes without the subject-object duality NOT dissolving ==> conventional truth

__________________________________________
2. Version:
Definition of conventional truth:
an object (flower) found by a valid cognition, (eye conciousness) which analyzes conventions (flower = convention, because really it is just a bunch of atoms) , and with respect to which (the flower), the valid cognition (mind/eye conciousness) analyzing the conventions (here: my eye conciousness seeing the flower) becomes a (is referred to as) valid cognition analyzing conventions. (Is my eye conciousness cognizing a flower convention or ultimate? Convention!) A vase is an illustration.

Definition of ultimate truth: An object (emptiness of flower) found by a valid cognition (wisdom of emptiness) which analyzes the ultimate (meditating on emptiness of flower and mind is just focused on the emptiness of flower), and with respect to which (object = emptiness of flower), the valid cognition analyzing the ultimate (mind/wisdom of emptiness) becomes a valid cognition analyzing the ultimate (because of seeing the emptiness of flower). Illustration has instances such as the emptiness of intrinsic existence of the vase. The divisions are as presented earlier [with the section on Svatantrika Madhyamaka tenets] (2, 4, 16 devisions, which will be studied later, also to be found in the Blaze of non dual widows endnote)).

Question 7

What are the Ancillary topic for Prasangika?

Answer 7

They assert past, future and disintegration as functional phenomena.
They also accept external objects for they maintain that the object and subject are established as different entities.

Question 8

!!!!What are the diffrent opinions in between the schools on the 3 times?

Answer 8

Vaibhashika and Prasangika say that all 3 times are impermanent phenomena.

Sautrantika, Cittamatra ,Svatantrika Madhyamaka say that only present is an impermanent phenomena. Past and future are permanent phenomena.