Theravāda Philosophy of Mind and the Person: Anatta-lakkha a Sutta, Mahā-nidāna Sutta, and Milindapañha
Buddhist Philosophy April 21, 2009 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780195328165.003.0024
Summary
This work presents three selections from Buddhist Pali literature: two from the Theravādin canonical discourses attributed to the Buddha (the Anatta-lakkhaṇa Sutta and part of the Mahānidāna Sutta) and one from the postcanonical Milindapañha. Each contains points and arguments of philosophical relevance, but they are not systematic philosophical texts. To appreciate their nuances and implications, one must understand their context of thought and practice.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The selections contain philosophically relevant points and arguments but require contextual understanding to appreciate their nuances. |
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Abstract
Abstract Of the following three selections, the first two, the Anatta-lakkha a Sutta and a part of the Mahānidā na Sutta, are from the Theravādin Pali canonical collection of discourses attributed to the Buddha. The third is from a postcanonical Pali text, the Milindapañha. While they all contain points and arguments of philosophical relevance, they are not as such systematic philosophical texts, and to properly appreciate their nuances and implications, one needs to understand something of their context of thought and practice.