Studies in Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 34

Attitude of Buddha towards Metaphysics
position, Buddha seemed to put himself in a paradoxical situtation by accepting both the transmigration and moral responsibility and also no-soul. But it is not the case; he explained the continuity of the life process convincingly through the law of Pratitya Samutpādu (or the law of dependent origination or the law of causation as may be called in translation). Futility of Metaphysical Speculations
Buddha was a pragmatist abounding in compassion. Out of compassion, he taught all through his life the way to make an end of sufferings. It had dawned upon him that everything is fraught with suffering; even the very life of an individual is called suffering. Suffering is universal and with impermanence and substancelessness form the threefold character of a thing. In the Scriptures it is said that "impermanent indeed are the composite things; they are of the nature of rising and passing away. Having come into being, they cease to exist." That which is impermanent is also suffering, because when a thing goes otherwise, the otherwiseness is always seen in relation to I and Mine and consequently there arises the feeling of pain and pleasure. Pleasure also has at its core apxiety for preserving it for ever, hence it is also suffering. That which is impermanent and suffering canpot be thing-initself. noumenal entity, hence it is also soulless. 9
In the scheme for eliminating sufferings and attaining a state free from all sufferings, unveiling the curtain of ignorance is an essential factor and it comprises in developing an insight into the real nature of things or things as they are in their true character and in trying gradually and steadly to eliminate craving for things. Givenness to knowing the ultimate beginning of the world and noumenal substratum or soul is futile, for, as Buddha says, "whether the world is eternal or not, the fact remains that man is suffering.''10 Further the belief in these metaphysical assertions produce adverse effects, for the belief in eternality leads one ultimately to a belief in
.