Nagarjuna

Summary

This video discusses the influential Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, focusing on his contributions to Mahayana Buddhism. Born in 150 AD, Nagarjuna emphasized the doctrine of emptiness, teaching that Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are the same, with perception being the key difference. His founding of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school further shaped Buddhist thought by rejecting the belief in the real existence of all phenomena. The video explores how Nagarjuna's ideas reshaped Buddhist philosophy and influenced later teachings, offering new perspectives on Enlightenment and the nature of reality.

Takeaways

• 🧘 Nararjuna was an influential Indian monk born in 150 AD, studying Mahayana Buddhism and shaping its philosophy.
• 📜 Mahayana Buddhism formed due to a schism between the 'Elders' and the 'Universal Assembly' over Buddha's status, roughly between 100 BC and 100 AD.
• 🧙‍♂️ Mahad Deva opposed the idea that Arhats were equal to Buddha, believing they lacked complete enlightenment and omniscience.
• 🌍 Mahayana Buddhism emphasized bringing others to Nirvana rather than seeking personal salvation.
• 📚 Nararjuna’s main contribution was the doctrine of emptiness, teaching that Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are the same, and that enlightenment is a matter of perception.
• 🛤️ Nararjuna founded the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school, focusing on avoiding extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, in line with Buddha's teachings.
• 🌫️ Nararjuna believed that all phenomena, including dharmas, lacked real being and true existence.
• 🧠 The 'mind-only' philosophy was influenced by Nararjuna, positing that consciousness is the only reality, denying physical existence.
• 🏫 Nararjuna’s foundation of the Middle School had a lasting impact on Buddhist philosophy and education.
• 🌀 His teachings on emptiness and the Middle Way inspired many Mahayana Buddhists and changed perspectives on enlightenment.

Q & A

Who was Nagarjuna and when was he born?

Nagarjuna was an Indian monk who was a significant figure in Mahayana Buddhism. He was born in 150 AD into a Brahman family.

What is Mahayana Buddhism, and how does it differ from earlier forms of Buddhism?

Mahayana Buddhism teaches that the path to salvation involves bringing others to Nirvana rather than seeking personal salvation. It emerged after a schism between two groups, one advocating that only Buddhas were truly enlightened and another that believed others could achieve similar levels of enlightenment.

What was the schism mentioned in the video, and what did it lead to?

The schism occurred after a century of Buddha’s death, with a divide between the 'elders' and the 'universal assembly' regarding the status of Arhats compared to Buddhas. This schism eventually contributed to the development of Mahayana Buddhism.

What was Nagarjuna's major philosophical contribution to Buddhism?

Nagarjuna's major contribution was the doctrine of emptiness, which taught that things lack inherent existence. He argued that Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are the same and that the difference is only in perception.

What is the doctrine of emptiness, and how does it relate to Nirvana?

The doctrine of emptiness suggests that all phenomena lack inherent existence. Nagarjuna taught that Nirvana is always present, but to see it, we must remove spiritual ignorance and understand that everything is equal.

What is the Madhyamika (Middle Way) School, and why is it important?

The Madhyamika School, founded by Nagarjuna, taught the middle way between self-indulgence and self-mortification. It emphasized avoiding extremes and helped shape a major philosophical approach in Mahayana Buddhism.

How did Nagarjuna’s philosophy differ from the traditional Buddhist view on dharmas?

While traditional Buddhists viewed dharmas as real but impermanent elements, Nagarjuna argued that all phenomena, including dharmas, lack real being. This was a key aspect of his teaching on emptiness.

What role did perception play in Nagarjuna’s teachings?

Nagarjuna taught that the difference between Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth lies in perception. By changing our perspective, we can achieve enlightenment.

What is the 'mind-only' philosophy, and how is it connected to Nagarjuna’s teachings?

The 'mind-only' philosophy, derived from Nagarjuna’s ideas, teaches that consciousness is the only reality, and external physical reality does not exist. This idealism extends from Nagarjuna’s view on emptiness.

What lasting impact did Nagarjuna have on Mahayana Buddhism?

Nagarjuna significantly influenced Mahayana Buddhism through his founding of the Madhyamika School and his concept of emptiness. His ideas reshaped how Buddhists view enlightenment and inspired many later commentaries and teachings.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Nagarjuna and His Impact on Buddhism

The speaker, Ashton, introduces the topic of Nagarjuna, an Indian monk born in 150 AD, and his influence on Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism. Ashton outlines the purpose of the video, which is to explore Nagarjuna’s contributions to Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing how his ideas shaped the understanding of Buddhism. The introduction also sets the stage for discussing the historical context surrounding the development of Mahayana Buddhism.

05:00

📜 Historical Context of Mahayana Buddhism's Emergence

Ashton provides historical background on the division within Buddhism after the Buddha’s death, leading to the creation of Mahayana Buddhism. The divide arose between two groups: the Elders and the Universal Assembly. A monk named Mahadeva argued that arhats, individuals who reached enlightenment with the help of a guru, were not equal to Buddha and lacked complete freedom from desires and omniscience. This ideological conflict, along with the spread of Buddhist teachings, led to the 'Great Schism,' marking the beginnings of Mahayana Buddhism around 100 BC to 100 AD, which focused on bringing others to Nirvana rather than solely seeking personal salvation.

🌱 Overview of Nagarjuna’s Life and Philosophy

Nagarjuna was born in 150 AD into a Brahman family and later converted to Mahayana Buddhism. He is known for his significant contributions to Buddhist philosophy, particularly his doctrine of 'emptiness.' This doctrine teaches that Nirvana is ever-present, but people must remove spiritual ignorance to perceive it, realizing that all things lack inherent existence. According to Nagarjuna, this realization frees individuals from fears and cravings, leading them to Nirvana. He proposed that both Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are essentially the same, with the difference being a matter of perspective.

⚖️ Nagarjuna’s Founding of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) School

Nagarjuna established the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school, derived from Buddha’s teaching of the middle path, which promotes avoiding self-indulgence and self-mortification to achieve enlightenment. The school significantly impacted Buddhist thought, particularly around the concept of 'dharmas' or phenomena. While earlier Buddhists viewed dharmas as real but impermanent, Nagarjuna argued that all phenomena, including dharmas, lack real existence. His teachings emphasized that everything lacks inherent being, and the distinction between Nirvana and rebirth is merely perceptual.

🧠 'Mind-Only' Philosophy and Its Relation to Nagarjuna’s Teachings

Ashton introduces the 'Mind-Only' philosophy, a derivative of Nagarjuna’s teachings. This philosophy holds that consciousness is the only reality, and nothing exists outside of thought. It denies the existence of a physical reality, representing a form of idealism rooted in Nagarjuna’s doctrine of emptiness. This concept further influenced Mahayana Buddhist teachings, shifting the focus on understanding the mind and perception as the path to enlightenment.

🌍 Nagarjuna’s Influence on Mahayana Buddhism

Nagarjuna's founding of the Madhyamaka school had a profound impact on the way Buddhists pursued enlightenment, particularly through his concept of emptiness. His philosophy introduced new perspectives on what it meant to achieve enlightenment, with his teachings inspiring numerous commentaries and treatises in Mahayana Buddhist thought. Ashton concludes by highlighting Nagarjuna’s legacy in changing how Mahayana Buddhists understood enlightenment, focusing on the idea that enlightenment is a shift in perspective, and all things are essentially the same.

Keywords

💡Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna was an influential Indian monk and philosopher born in 150 AD, who made significant contributions to Mahayana Buddhism. His teachings, particularly on the concept of emptiness, reshaped Buddhist philosophy by emphasizing the idea that all phenomena lack intrinsic existence. In the video, the speaker explores how Nagarjuna's ideas, such as the doctrine of emptiness and the founding of the Madhyamaka school, impacted the understanding of enlightenment in Buddhism.

💡Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism is one of the major branches of Buddhism, emerging around 100 BC to 100 AD. It emphasizes the pursuit of enlightenment not just for oneself but for the benefit of all beings. In the video, Mahayana Buddhism is discussed as the context in which Nagarjuna developed his philosophical ideas, including the focus on emptiness and interconnectedness.

💡Doctrine of Emptiness

The doctrine of emptiness is a central teaching of Nagarjuna, which asserts that all things, including Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth, lack inherent existence. According to this philosophy, the only difference between these states is our perception. In the video, the speaker highlights how this doctrine encourages practitioners to change their perspective to realize the nature of Nirvana and end suffering.

💡Madhyamaka School

The Madhyamaka School, also known as the Middle Way school, was founded by Nagarjuna and focuses on the idea of avoiding extremes, such as self-indulgence and self-mortification, to reach enlightenment. This school built upon the Buddha's original teachings and added a new layer of understanding regarding the illusory nature of existence. In the video, this school is described as a major impact of Nagarjuna's influence on Mahayana Buddhism.

💡Schism in Buddhism

The schism refers to the early division in the Buddhist community that occurred about a century after Buddha's death. The divide was between the 'elders' and the 'universal assembly,' which led to different interpretations of the Buddha's teachings. This historical context, provided in the video, helps explain the formation of Mahayana Buddhism and the philosophical environment that influenced Nagarjuna.

💡Arahant

An Arahant is someone who has reached enlightenment under the guidance of a teacher or guru. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of Mahadeva’s critique, where he argued that Arahants were not on the same level as the Buddha, as they lacked omniscience. This debate was part of the ideological divide that eventually influenced Mahayana Buddhism.

💡Mahadeva

Mahadeva was a Buddhist monk who opposed the view that Arahants were equal to the Buddha, claiming that they still possessed imperfections. This controversy is part of the historical context discussed in the video, as it contributed to the division within early Buddhism, ultimately leading to the development of Mahayana thought, which Nagarjuna later built upon.

💡Nirvana

Nirvana, in Buddhism, is the ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. According to Nagarjuna's teachings, as discussed in the video, Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are essentially the same, with the difference being how we perceive them. By understanding the doctrine of emptiness, one can realize Nirvana by changing their perspective.

💡Perception

Perception refers to the way individuals interpret reality, which plays a critical role in Nagarjuna's philosophy. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that Nagarjuna taught how changing one’s perception is essential to achieving Nirvana, as both Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth are ultimately the same when viewed from the correct perspective.

💡Mind-Only Philosophy

Mind-Only philosophy is a form of idealism derived from Nagarjuna's teachings, asserting that consciousness is the only reality and that external objects do not exist outside of our thoughts. This idea is briefly mentioned in the video as an extension of Nagarjuna’s influence on later Buddhist teachings, illustrating how his philosophy continued to evolve.

Highlights

Introduction to Nararjuna and his impact on Mahayana Buddhism.

Nararjuna was born in 150 AD and was an Indian monk who studied Mahayana Buddhism.

Explanation of the historical context, including the divide between the elders and the universal assembly after Buddha's death.

Mahayana Buddhism formed between 100 BC and 100 AD, teaching salvation through helping others reach Nirvana.

Nararjuna's belief in the principle of bringing others to Nirvana rather than seeking personal salvation.

Nararjuna's doctrine of emptiness, which emphasized that Nirvana is always present but requires removing spiritual ignorance to see it.

The idea that everything, including Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth, is the same, and the only difference is our perception.

Founding of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school by Nararjuna, which focused on avoiding self-indulgence and self-mortification to achieve enlightenment.

Nararjuna taught that not only are dharmas impermanent, but all phenomena lack real being.

The difference between Nirvana and rebirth is purely a matter of perception, according to Nararjuna.

Introduction of the 'Mind Only' philosophy, which taught that consciousness is the only reality, and physical reality does not exist.

Nararjuna’s influence on Mahayana Buddhism through his founding of the Middle Way school.

The concept of emptiness introduced a new understanding of what it takes to reach enlightenment in Buddhism.

Nararjuna’s teachings inspired numerous commentaries and treaties within the Mahayana tradition.

Nararjuna’s overall influence on shifting Mahayana Buddhist perspectives, especially regarding the concept of emptiness and enlightenment.

Transcripts

hi my name is Ashton and for my video on

Buddhism I chose to talk about narar

Juna and how he impacted

Buddhism so narar Juno was born in 150

ad and was an Indian monk who studied

Mahana Buddhism um and in this

video uh I will explore his

contributions to Buddhist

philosophy and how his ideas shaped our

understanding of Buddhism

so I'd like to talk about some

historical context to better understand

where

this

um idea of Mahana Buddhism came in so a

century after Buddha's death there was a

divide between a group uh which later

was referred to as the elders and

another group which was referred to as

the universal

assembly the two disputed over the

status of Buddha a monk named mahad

Diva opposed the idea that arant were

equal to Buddha and an arant just for

some

context is somebody who had a guru lead

them to

um Enlightenment rather than leading

themselves um he claimed that they were

not completely free of bad desires and

that they lacked omniscience which was

never

a claim that Buddha made himself but

that is the opinion of

uh mahad Diva

so this idea along with the spread of

Buddhist teachings throughout India led

to what was later referred to as the gra

Schism which was basically a divide

between different teachings of

Buddhism um and this led

to the Mahana Buddhism

um and Mahana Buddhism uh the formation

can be said to have started around 100

BC and 100 AD and it taught that the way

to Salvation was through bringing others

to Nirvana rather than seeking for your

own

salvation and this was uh something Nar

narar Juna uh belied d as

well so just a brief overview of narar

juna's life he was born in 150 ad into a

Brahman family and he studied Mahana

Buddhism which led to his uh spiritual

conversion later he passed away in 250

ad so next I'd like to talk about narar

juna's major philosophies

um his major thing was that he taught

was the doctrine of

emptiness and this taught that Nirvana

is present always but in order for us to

see it we have to remove our spiritual

ignorance and come to the realization

that things lack

being um and this realization will

remove our fears and our cravings and

this will lead us to

Nirvana so the way I understand it is

basically we have to come to the

understanding that everything is equal

um both Nirvana and the cycle of rebirth

are the same exact

thing and in order for us to reach

nirvana we have to come to the

realization that it's only our

perspective that's

different another thing I'd like to talk

about that greatly impacted Buddhism was

narar Jan's um founding of the

M

M yika M yamika School uh which was

which meant middle school and it derived

its name from the traditional concept of

the middle way that was taught by Buddha

the idea that we must avoid

self-indulgence and self-mortification

in order to live a life that would lead

us to discovering enlightenment

the Buddhists had

thought that

dharmas were impermanent but still

believed that they were real elements

narar

Juna um disagreed and he

taught

that not only were they impermanent but

they were also but all all phenomenon

lacked real

being Naro Juna taught that

everything lacks true

existence and this essentially nothing

is

different he used this to explain that

the only difference between Nirvana and

the cycle of

rebirth is our

perception and that in order

to achieve Nirvana we just have to

change our

perception from this came many other

teachings such as mind only

uh which is what I'd like to talk about

briefly in the next

slide so mind only

philosophy taught that Consciousness is

the only

reality and that outside of thought

nothing else exists it denies the

existence of a physical

reality um and this was a form of

idealism derived from Nar Naraj juna's

teachings

next I'd like to talk about how narar

Juna influenced Mahana

Buddhism so the first thing was the

foundation of the middle school which

had a great impact on the way people

viewed reaching

Enlightenment and

um obviously played Buddha uh Buddhist

teachings obviously played a large part

in What was taught at those schools

um and this had a major impact on

Buddhist

philosophy his next thing was the

concept of emptiness and this introduced

a new understanding of what it took to

reach Enlightenment as a

Buddhist um and through his teachings he

inspired countless commentaries and

treaties so in summary narar Juna

changed the way that many Mahana

Buddhists viewed

Enlightenment uh more specifically with

his concept of emptiness teaching

that

everything essentially is the same thing

and we must change our perspective

on things in order to achieve

enlightenment and um his foundation of

the Middle

School his concept of of

emptiness um and his teachings on the

doctrine of emptiness inspired many

Mahana

Buddhists changing their perspective on

enlightenment this concludes my

presentation thank you for listening