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Conceptuality in question : teaching and cognition in Yogacara-Madhymaka.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>09/2000
<mark>Journal</mark>Religious Studies
Issue number3
Volume36
Number of pages15
Pages (from-to)277-291
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

For Yogacara-Madhyamaka, enlightenment is free of the mistaken conceptual construction of subject and objects of desire. The Buddha's awakening was a state purified of concepts, without desire and suffering. But, subsequently, he compassionately taught of awakening, and teaching is conceptual. Can enlightenment be both cognitively pure and concept-utilizing? To secure cognitive purity while teaching, the philosophers argue that the enlightened person is cleansed of desire for subject and objects, rather than strictly free of concepts of subject and objects. To secure teaching after the attainment of pure cognition, they allow conceptuality, so long as it is free of desire.