Argumentative Methods for the Existence of the Next Life in Theravāda Buddhism

Abstract

Theravāda Buddhism has argumentative method for giving the reasons to confirm the existence of the next life which is of nine methods (1) Tathāgatabodhisaddhā argument (2) Dependent Origination argument (3) Comparison argument (4) Empirical argument (5) Samsāra argument (6) Three worlds argument (7) Four origin of birth argument (8) Six abhiññā argument and (9) Pragmatic argument. The mentioned nine methods of quoting the reasons to confirm the existence of the next life are of the cause and the effect according to the scope the Eastern and the Western logics, and can be formed as the arguments to confirm the existence of the next life in Theravāda Buddhism into two types, namely :- (1) the type of quoting the reason to confirm the existence of the next life for the believing group [2] the type of quoting the reason to confirm the existence of the next life for non believing group. These two types can be applied reasonably to the learning and the teaching about the next life, and are the principles of practicing oneself about the next life in the present society.