Summary: Series Description: The Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna (ca. 150 C.E.) famously articulated the notion of emptiness or sunyata as a tool for understanding ultimate reality. Based on selected primary texts such as his Wisdom, this seminar explores Nagarjuna's thought and its powerful effect on subsequent Buddhist philosophy. Inquiring into the key concept of sunyata, we will see how it relates to interdependence and compassion, and we will ask how it is possible to experience sunyata in meditative practice. Episode Description: This first segment of the final session of the program begins with an extensive Q&A, which ends with the idea that while "ignorance is the architect of samsara, compassion drives the Buddha-field," which segues into a discussion of the three kinds of compassion. Each successive kind of compassion is said to be more authentic than the next. The first kind of compassion takes the person as the object. The second kind takes "dharmas" as the object, and views the person as an "emergent system." Thus at this level, compassion is focused on a dysfunctional system as opposed to a dysfunctional person. The final, most powerful form of compassion is "non-referential." This kind of compassion no longer sees the world in terms of a compassionate subject, an act of compassion, and an object of compassion. At this level, the conceptual structure has entirely transformed. Although it is said that only Buddhas realize this level of compassion, John will argue in the final segment that this kind of compassion represents a certain potential, which requires a yet deeper understanding of emptiness. For teacher BIO, please see Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Revealing Nagarjuna Series: All 12 Parts
