The TheravaÌdin doctrine of momentariness : a survey of its origins and development
The idea of the impermanence and transience of life is absolutely fundamental to Buddhist teachings. The first of the Three Characteristics (ti-lakkhana, dukkha, anatt), 'impermanence', is a doctrine constantly and emphatically insisted upon in the canonical texts. The radical and extended interpretation of this doctrine gave rise to the idea that the world is not made of enduring substances with changing qualities. Rather, reality is made only of events that flash into and out of existence, not only through the causal power of their chief cause but also through the influence of an entire causal complex. This is referred to as ksanikavÂĄda, the doctrine of momentariness. There is disagreement among Buddhist thinkers about the exact meaning of the doctrine of momentariness. Some thinkers hold that no conditioned phenomenon can endure for more than a single moment, after which it stops existing. Others, though, argue that momentariness is not incompatible with duration; things are produced, endure and disappear. In particular, the Theravadins attempts to model the thought process in terms of the relative duration of material and mental phenomena. In fact, the TheravaÌdin exegetes hold that a moment of matter
Kim, Wan Doo
TheravaÂŻda Buddhism--Doctrines
The TheravaÌdin doctrine of momentariness : a survey of its origins and development. The idea of the impermanence and transience of life is absolutely fundamental to Buddhist teachings. The first of the Three Characteristics (ti-lakkhana, dukkha, anatt), 'impermanence', is a doctrine constantly and emphatically insisted upon in the canonical texts. The radical and extended interpretation of this doctrine gave rise to the idea that the world is not made of enduring substances with changing qualities. Rather, reality is made only of events that flash into and out of existence, not only through the causal power of their chief cause but also through the influence of an entire causal complex. This is referred to as ksanikavÂĄda, the doctrine of momentariness. There is disagreement among Buddhist thinkers about the exact meaning of the doctrine of momentariness. Some thinkers hold that no conditioned phenomenon can endure for more than a single moment, after which it stops existing. Others, though, argue that momentariness is not incompatible with duration; things are produced, endure and disappear. In particular, the Theravadins attempts to model the thought process in terms of the relative duration of material and mental phenomena. In fact, the TheravaÌdin exegetes hold that a moment of matter
doctrine survey origins_development idea life absolutely fundamental buddhist teaching first_three characteristics doctrine constantly insist upon canonical text radical extend interpretation doctrine give_rise idea world make endure substance change quality rather reality make event existence causal_power chief cause also influence entire causal complex refer doctrine disagreement among buddhist thinker exact mean doctrine thinker hold condition phenomenon endure single moment stop exist others though argue incompatible duration thing produce endure disappear particular attempt model thought process term relative duration material mental phenomenon fact hold moment matter