Metaphor and Literalism in Buddhism The Doctrinal History of Nirvana [Hardcover]

Soonil Hwang studies the doctrinal development of nirvana in the Pali Nikaayaand subsequent tradition and compares it with the Chinese aagamaand its traditional interpretation. He clarifies early doctrinal developments of Nirvanaand traces the word and related terms back to their original metaphorical contexts, elucidating diverse interpretations and doctrinal and philosophical developments in the abhidharmaexegeses and treatises of Southern and Northern Buddhist schools. The book finally examines which school, if any, kept the original meaning and reference of Nirvana.

 

Introduction  Part I: The doctrinal development of nirvana in early Indian Buddhism  1. Nirvana and its reference  2. The two nirvana theory in the early canon  3. Developments of the two nirvana theory  4. Nirvana in the Theravada Buddhist tradition  5. Nirvana in Northern Buddhist schools  6. Conclusion  Part II: Annotated translations of the related texts in Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese  Selected sources for the nirvana concept and the two nirvana theory

Soonil Hwang is Assistant Professor in the Department of Indian Philosophy at Dongguk University, Seoul. His research interests are focused upon early Indian Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy and Sectarian Buddhism.