Buddhists deny a specific version of "atman," not the linguistic convention

Three Arguments

1. No Control over 5 Skandhas.

2. Everything is Impermanent (including 5 skandhas)

3. Based on Experience, "self" is incoherent

 All things arise based on a series of causes and conditions.

Therefore, everything is empty in and of itself because it is dependently originated.

1. Form: raw sensory data

2. Feeling: positive (attachment), negative (aversion), indifference (delusion)

3. Recognition: conceptual moment when mind applies a label

4. Formations: habits associated with it from all prior experiences

5. Consciousness: aspect of experience cognizant of the rest which ties them together 

Conventional Truth: common sense, everyday practical truths

Ultimate: highest truths of meaning which lead to nirvana

Must have both to attain nirvana, with Ultimate building off Conventional.

Ten unwholesome actions:

1. Killing living beings

2. Stealing

3. Sexual misconduct

4. False speech

5. Malicious speech

6. Harsh speech

7. Gossip

8. Coveting

9. Ill-will

10. Wrong views

Meditation focused on clearing the mind of thoughts that block our clarity

"Serenity" meditation

Mahayana

"The Great Vehicle"

Largest school of Buddhism today.

Originated in India.

Seeks complete enlightenment for all sentient beings.

"Arhats" not considered fully enlightened.

Hinayana

"The Lesser Vehicle"

Ancient schools of Buddhist thought considered inferior by Mahayanists

Typically conservative, not as universal or compassionate as Mahayana

A specific path to enlightenment in the Mahayana tradition.

"Vehicle of the listeners," aka the disciples or arhats who attain enlightenment by learning from a Bodhisatva Buddha

Inferior to Pratyeka Buddha Vehicle and the Mahayana Vehicle, so can't attain true, ultimate enlightenment

In Mahayana, one who has taken the Bodhisattva vows to work towards the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

Follows the six perfections.

Possesses Mind of Awakening (Bodhicitta)

Listed in Lotus Sutra

Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Diligence, Meditation, Wisdom

Cultivation of these is central to the Bodhisattva Path

practice of avoiding mental obstructions on a regular basis, not just during meditation

Sunyata: an empty container with potential to be filled with wisdom

Form is emptiness; emptiness is form

There is no absolute existence due to dependent arising.

Must take a "Middle Path" between annihilationism and eternalism

Founded Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism

Famous for Sunyata and two truths philosophies.

No difference between Samsara and Nirvana on ultimate level, only on a relative level

Madhyamaka

"Middle Way"

All phenomena do not exist, because they are empty of substance and rely on other phenomena to come into being (dependent arising)

Must take a Middle Way between extremes of eternalism (all things absolutely exist) and annihilationism (all things do not exist) to attain Enlightenment

meditative practice within Mahayana tradition

holds that the mind is the only phenomenon that really exists, constructing our human experiences

Madhyamaka disagrees but asserts this view is useful in helping people along the path towards the ultimate truth of emptiness.

attainment of the nature, qualities, wisdom etc. that allow for a sentient being to become a buddha.

All sentient beings possess a primordial form of this unadulterated by karma and conscious thoughts, such as the poisons.

Madhyamaka Buddhist student at Nalanda University

Wrote "The Way of the Bodhisattva" in which he describes, in great depth, the path one must follow as a bodhisattva to attain buddhahood