Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Stories
On Jun 1, 2007, at 10:13 AM, new.morning wrote: There are several loosely connected themes in this thread, including the above -- and other related posts in the past, revolving around the issues, questions and insights about: How do we know what is true / valid / predictable? What is truth (and is this even a meaningful and useful concept)? How do we know anything? What is valid knowdge? What is the relation of beliefs to knowledge, truth and the way one perceives the world and universe? What if any are the limits of knowledge? What is right or ethical action? What is a valid foundation for ethics? According to Buddhist metaphysics, one would need a high degree of awakening in order to know the truth, i.e. exemplify the dharmakaya, the body of truth. This would mean one would need to be established in unimpeded omniscience and have resolved emotional and mental obscurations completely. These questions are exhaustively detailed in madhyamika.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Stories
On Jun 1, 2007, at 1:07 PM, new.morning wrote: These questions are exhaustively detailed in madhyamika. Thanks. But is there a Cliff Notes version? Which makes me think there should be a first law of philosophy: A measure of the profoundness of an insight is the degree of its explantion's conciseness. The Berzin archives is a good start, well interlinked and often concise and to the point. Here are some bits you might enjoy: Introductory Survey of Objects of Cognition: Gelug Presentation http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/ level5_analysis_mind_reality/cognition_theory/level_a_basics/ intro_survey_objects_cognition_gelug.html Apprehension of Validly Knowable Phenomena http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/ level5_analysis_mind_reality/cognition_theory/level_a_basics/ apprehension.html Establishing the Existence of Validly Knowable Phenomena http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/ level5_analysis_mind_reality/voidness/establishing_existence.html Ridding Oneself of the Two Sets of Obscurations in Sutra and Highest Tantra According to Nyingma and Sakya http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/advanced/tantra/ level3_intermediate_theory/eliminating_2_sets_obscurations.html The Qualities of a Buddha http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/level2_lamrim/ initial_scope/safe_direction/qualities_buddha_omniscient_deep_aw.html
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Stories
One of Byron Katie's questions is Can you absolutely know that's true? If you're really honest, the answer has to be no. Is there anything we can know with absolute certainty, other than, perhaps, I am?
