Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa
The need to find clarity concerning (1) the relationship between scientific and religious cosmological discourses and (2) the imagining of a space where various religions could meet in fruitful conciliation as far as (1) is concerned, formed the basis of the article. The aim of the article was to in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2023-07-01
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| Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8577 |
| _version_ | 1797767267656663040 |
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| author | Kobus Krüger |
| author_facet | Kobus Krüger |
| author_sort | Kobus Krüger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The need to find clarity concerning (1) the relationship between scientific and religious cosmological discourses and (2) the imagining of a space where various religions could meet in fruitful conciliation as far as (1) is concerned, formed the basis of the article. The aim of the article was to investigate the relevance of Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga (5th CE, Pali compendium of Theravāda Buddhism) with regard to the above problems.
The methodology employed involved clarifying the historical context of the Visuddhimagga; understanding the subjective intentions of Buddhaghosa and extrapolating non-emphasised but promising underlying tendencies in his magnum opus, conducive to a perspective of ultimate, universal peace as far as Cosmos, all of humanity and its various religious discourses are concerned.
The reading of the Visuddhimagga revealed a mythology of many deities, tolerated but demoted to a status lower than that of enlightened humans; the denial of a Creator God; no notion of an analogia entis between humans and a living Cosmos, nor any tendency towards pantheism and a commitment to the ideal of universal happiness for all beings.
The main conclusion was that Theravāda Buddhism (and, to a lesser extent, Christian theology) could be extended towards the notion of a living, evolving Cosmos, appearing from and disappearing into non-substantial silence. It is not claimed that Buddhaghosa succeeded in achieving a great cosmology. It remains an unrealised possibility, latently possible as an extension of Theravāda.
Contribution: The contribution of the article is that it uncovers deeply hidden lines in Buddhism (and Christianity) that are emerging and converging. ‘Theo-logy’, re-interpreted as mystical ‘cosmo-sophy’, would not amount to a cynical debunking or irresponsible annexation of Buddhaghosa for utterly unthinkable ends, but as a topic worthy of investigation. The article is part of work in progress. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:37:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7bed9e5075144fb4ba362cd99498f786 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:37:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7bed9e5075144fb4ba362cd99498f7862023-08-01T12:47:58ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502023-07-01792e1e710.4102/hts.v79i2.85775735Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of BuddhaghosaKobus Krüger0Department of Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, TshwaneThe need to find clarity concerning (1) the relationship between scientific and religious cosmological discourses and (2) the imagining of a space where various religions could meet in fruitful conciliation as far as (1) is concerned, formed the basis of the article. The aim of the article was to investigate the relevance of Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga (5th CE, Pali compendium of Theravāda Buddhism) with regard to the above problems. The methodology employed involved clarifying the historical context of the Visuddhimagga; understanding the subjective intentions of Buddhaghosa and extrapolating non-emphasised but promising underlying tendencies in his magnum opus, conducive to a perspective of ultimate, universal peace as far as Cosmos, all of humanity and its various religious discourses are concerned. The reading of the Visuddhimagga revealed a mythology of many deities, tolerated but demoted to a status lower than that of enlightened humans; the denial of a Creator God; no notion of an analogia entis between humans and a living Cosmos, nor any tendency towards pantheism and a commitment to the ideal of universal happiness for all beings. The main conclusion was that Theravāda Buddhism (and, to a lesser extent, Christian theology) could be extended towards the notion of a living, evolving Cosmos, appearing from and disappearing into non-substantial silence. It is not claimed that Buddhaghosa succeeded in achieving a great cosmology. It remains an unrealised possibility, latently possible as an extension of Theravāda. Contribution: The contribution of the article is that it uncovers deeply hidden lines in Buddhism (and Christianity) that are emerging and converging. ‘Theo-logy’, re-interpreted as mystical ‘cosmo-sophy’, would not amount to a cynical debunking or irresponsible annexation of Buddhaghosa for utterly unthinkable ends, but as a topic worthy of investigation. The article is part of work in progress.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8577analogia entisanalogia relationisapokatastasisbuddhaghosacosmoscosmosophygodgodsmysticismvisuddhimagga. |
| spellingShingle | Kobus Krüger Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies analogia entis analogia relationis apokatastasis buddhaghosa cosmos cosmosophy god gods mysticism visuddhimagga. |
| title | Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa |
| title_full | Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa |
| title_fullStr | Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa |
| title_short | Theology and cosmology in the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa |
| title_sort | theology and cosmology in the visuddhimagga of buddhaghosa |
| topic | analogia entis analogia relationis apokatastasis buddhaghosa cosmos cosmosophy god gods mysticism visuddhimagga. |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8577 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kobuskruger theologyandcosmologyinthevisuddhimaggaofbuddhaghosa |