Heraclitus and the Buddha : approaching truth in early Greek and early Buddhist thinking

Abstract

In an effort to illuminate the philosophical contributions of Pre-Socratic thinking to the exploration of the nature of reality, this dissertation spotlights the radical philosophy of the early Greek contemplative Heraclitus (c. 540-480/470), focusing particularly on his thoughts relating to flux and its corollary relationship to the Buddhist doctrine of impermanence (anicca), as well as the relation between knowledge (pramāṇa) and wisdom (paññā), ignorance (avijjā) and awakening (bodhi). Up to date, beyond passing references to these striking similarities there has been no systematic comparative study of Heraclitus’ aphorisms with the doctrines of early Buddhism. Hence, this thesis will examine how two well-known contemporaneous contemplatives from Asia and the West, Heraclitus and Śākyamuni, articulated their quest for understanding reality at an ultimate level. Their common orientations towards ‘explanation and application’, ‘truth and method,’ will be analyzed through selective readings of Greek texts and Buddhist sutta-s that highlight an intricate and profound relation between language and truth. Arguably, the common ground of human aspirations to make sense of the world, and the universality of the quest for truth, cut across historical, cultural and geographical spheres. It will be shown that Heraclitus’ thought invites us to delve deeper into his enigmatic style of analysis and to recognize that his philosophical project was not confined to the Greek intellectual milieu, but one shared by other people at different times in history who similarly inquired into the nature of ultimate reality and the human condition.