Nāgārjuna and the Philosophy of Openness

Download or read book Nāgārjuna and the Philosophy of Openness written by Nancy McCagney and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 1997 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this innovative study of the philosopher Nagarjuna, Nancy McCagney demonstrates that the concept of space ('akasa') in early Indian Mahayana Buddhism is the root metaphor for Nagarjuna's understanding of 'sunyata', or openness. Nagarjuna's use of the term 'sunyata' was new, and contrasted with the word's use in Pali Buddhist literature. By using the word to mean 'openness,' Nagarjuna was able to elucidate, through a deeper analysis of impermanence, a consistent philosophical foundation for the truth and efficacy of Gautama's Middle Way. McCagney's book will be important for those studying Indian philosophy, Buddhism, and the philosophy of religion.