Moonshadows: Conventional Truth In Buddhist Philosophy
by The Cowherds /
2010 / English / PDF
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The doctrine of the two truths--a conventional truth and an
ultimate truth--is central to Buddhist metaphysics and
epistemology. The two truths (or two realities), the distinction
between them, and the relation between them is understood variously
in different Buddhist schools and is of special importance to the
Madhyamaka school. The fundamental ideas are articulated with
particular force by Nagarjuna (2nd--3rd century CE) who famously
claims that the two truths are identical to one another, and yet
distinct. One of the most influential interpretations of
Nagarjuna's difficult doctrine derives from the commentary of
Candrakirti (6th century CE). While much attention has been devoted
to explaining the nature of the ultimate truth in view of its
special soteriological role, less has been paid to understanding
the nature of conventional truth, which is often described as
"deceptive," "illusion," or "truth for fools." But conventional
truth is nonetheless truth. This book therefore asks, "what is true
about conventional truth?" and "What are the implications of an
understanding of conventional truth for our lives?"
The doctrine of the two truths--a conventional truth and an
ultimate truth--is central to Buddhist metaphysics and
epistemology. The two truths (or two realities), the distinction
between them, and the relation between them is understood variously
in different Buddhist schools and is of special importance to the
Madhyamaka school. The fundamental ideas are articulated with
particular force by Nagarjuna (2nd--3rd century CE) who famously
claims that the two truths are identical to one another, and yet
distinct. One of the most influential interpretations of
Nagarjuna's difficult doctrine derives from the commentary of
Candrakirti (6th century CE). While much attention has been devoted
to explaining the nature of the ultimate truth in view of its
special soteriological role, less has been paid to understanding
the nature of conventional truth, which is often described as
"deceptive," "illusion," or "truth for fools." But conventional
truth is nonetheless truth. This book therefore asks, "what is true
about conventional truth?" and "What are the implications of an
understanding of conventional truth for our lives?"
