Logic

Logical proof and refutation, together with a semblance (of them), are for the sake of bringing understanding to others. Bare perception and inferential cognition, together with semblances (of them), are for the sake of bringing understanding to oneself. This is the gist of...

Introduction We’ve been going through, in summary, the main points of the sixteen chapters of Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Verse Treatise. And we saw that the first eight chapters speak about how to rid ourselves of incorrect views concerning conventional truth. And now we’re ready...

Origins The Vaisheshika (bye-brag-pa) school of Indian philosophy bases itself on The Sutra of Particulars (Skt. Vaisheshika Sutra) by the sage Kanadi (Drang-srong gZegs-zan), as commented on in the 5th century CE by Prashastapada. The slightly later Nyaya (rigs-can-pa) school...

Introduction Today we’re going to discuss a very important topic: How do we develop bodhichitta for the first time? Is it free will, determinism, or something else? You see, if our motivation is to help all beings and in order to do that we need to become liberated and...

Question: Could you speak more about the relationship between Buddhism and science, and give some specific examples of points that they share in common? Dr. Berzin: The dialogues between Buddhist masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and scientists have focused so far...

We’ve been speaking about the various areas or topics of analysis that we have in the Buddhist presentation of metaphysics. And we’ve seen that all of these systems of analysis can be used on a very practical level to help us to deconstruct – first of all to understand, and...

Buddha said not to accept what he taught just based on faith, but to test it with logic and experimentation, like testing gold. There are two forms of logic used in Buddhism. One is to prove or establish a thesis regarding whether or not a certain property applies to...

Valid Ways of Correctly Ascertaining That a Certain Property-Possessor Is a Member of the Set of Phenomena Possessing a Certain Property Correctly ascertaining that a certain property-possessor (chos-can) is a member of the set of phenomena possessing a certain property (chos)...

I’ve been asked to speak this evening about “Why Buddhism?” which is of course a valid question, especially in the West, where we have our own religions, so why do we need Buddhism? I think it’s very important to understand that when we speak about Buddhism, we have many...