Eternalism

From Rigpa Wiki
Revision as of 13:34, 8 November 2010 by Adam (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Eternalism (Skt. nityānta; Wyl. rtag pa'i lta ba) — one of the so-called 'two extremes', eternalism is the belief that there is a permanent and causeless creator of everything; in particular, that one's identity or consciousness has a concrete essence which is independent, everlasting and singular.

There are many different brands of eternalism; they can be classified into three hundred sixty views, sixty-two false positions, eleven systems, and so on. All can, however, be condensed into the five tarka, or speculative systems.[1]

Notes

  1. Mipham Rinpoche - Shantarakshita, The Adornment of the Middle Way: Shantarakshita's Madhyamakalankara with Commentary by Jamgon Mipham, Translated by Padmkara Translation Group (Boston: Shambhala, 2005), p. 217.