King, R. (1995) Is “Buddha-Nature” Buddhist? Numen, 42(1), pp. 1-20. (doi: 10.1163/1568527952598729)
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Abstract
Recent controversies in Japanese Buddhist scholarship have focused upon the Mah y na notion of a “Buddha nature” within all sentient beings and whether or not the concept is compatible with traditional Buddhist teachings such as an tman (no-abiding-self). This controversy is not only relevant to Far Eastern Buddhism, for which the notion of a Buddha-nature is a central doctrinal theme, but also for the roots of this tradition in those Indian Mah y na s tras which utilised the notion of tath gatagarbha (Buddha-embryo or Buddha womb). One of the earliest Buddhist texts to discuss this notion is the Queen r m l S tra ( r m l dev s tra), which appears to display a transitional and revisionist attitude towards traditional Mah y na doctrines such as emptiness ( nyat ) and no-abiding-self (an tman). These and related issues are examined as they occur in the r m l S tra and as they might relate to the issue of the place of Buddha-nature thought within the Buddhist tradition. Finally some concluding remarks are made about the quest for “true” Buddhism.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | King, Prof Richard |
Authors: | King, R. |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BQ Buddhism B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) |
College/School: | College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies |
Journal Name: | Numen |
ISSN: | 0029-5973 |
ISSN (Online): | 1568-5276 |
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