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    Carmelics

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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Madhyamaka philosophy, particularly Candrakīrti's Prasannapadā, holds that ultimately no substantial, independently existing 'buddhas' can be posited as really present.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Denying any ultimate reality to buddhas undermines soteriological efficacy: if buddhas lack real existence, their teachings and salvific function become incoherent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Candrakīrti's own texts presuppose buddhas' functional reality when discussing their omniscience, compassion, and liberation—commitments that seem to require some substantial existence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 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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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If buddhas possessed intrinsic nature independent of causes, conditions, and conceptual designation, they would be unchanging and imperceptible to conventional experience.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Candrakīrti's Prasannapadā systematically applies the regress argument: positing independent existence generates infinite causal chains that cannot be rationally grounded.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The two truths framework requires ultimate reality to transcend subject-object duality; substantial buddhas as objects would contradict this non-dual ultimate nature.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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