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    Madhyamaka philosophy, particularly Candrakīrti's Prasann... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Vast numbers of celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas presently exist who have already reached attainment.

    Madhyamaka philosophy, particularly Candrakīrti's Prasannapadā, holds that ultimately no substantial, independently existing 'buddhas' can be posited as really present.

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    Reasons For

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    • 1.If buddhas possessed intrinsic nature independent of causes, conditions, and conceptual designation, they would be unchanging and imperceptible to conventional experience.
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    • 2.Candrakīrti's Prasannapadā systematically applies the regress argument: positing independent existence generates infinite causal chains that cannot be rationally grounded.
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    • 3.The two truths framework requires ultimate reality to transcend subject-object duality; substantial buddhas as objects would contradict this non-dual ultimate nature.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Denying any ultimate reality to buddhas undermines soteriological efficacy: if buddhas lack real existence, their teachings and salvific function become incoherent.
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    • 2.Candrakīrti's own texts presuppose buddhas' functional reality when discussing their omniscience, compassion, and liberation—commitments that seem to require some substantial existence.
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    • 3.The distinction between 'substantial existence' and 'functional existence' may itself be conceptually imposed rather than ultimately grounded, making the claim self-undermining.
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    Candrakīrti's Prasannapadā systematically applies the regress argument: positing...Candrakīrti's own texts presuppose buddhas' functional reality when discussing t...Denying any ultimate reality to buddhas undermines soteriological efficacy: if b...If buddhas possessed intrinsic nature independent of causes, conditions, and con...
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    The distinction between 'substantial existence' and 'functional existence' may i...The two truths framework requires ultimate reality to transcend subject-object d...Vast numbers of celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas presently exist who have alre...

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