An Analysis of Momentariness Concepts in Madhyamika Philosophy

Abstract

      The aims of this dissertation were: 1) to study the concepts of momentariness in Mahayana philosophy; 2) to study the concepts of momentariness in Madhyamika philosophy; 3) to analyze the concepts of momentariness in Madhyamika philosophy. This documentary research was conducted through the study of its primary and secondary sources before the obtained data were interpreted by the descriptive analysis.

      The research results were as follows:

      1) The concepts of Momentariness in Mahayana philosophy is differentiated as Vaibhāṣika has an idea that the basic components of the world and life is the dhamma; Sautrāntika believes in two truths: material and mental one and all of them are impermanent in terms of status and non-status; world and life is a series of changes. In Yogācāra sect, ‘yogācāra’ meaning ‘the practice of the yoga or practitioners) refers to the controlling of body and mind in meditation. Madhyamika is the sect of the middle path established in the 7^th Buddhist Century by Nagarjuna with his explanation of Buddhist resolution by dialectic methods.

      2) The concepts of Momentariness in Madhyamika philosophy is the idea of changes in all kinds of things in every moment in respective orders in the continuity of the causes and factors called ‘Santānvāda (theory of continuity), all things and even mind is momentariness. Nagarjuna creates the theory related to emptiness to explain the essence’s principles of interdependences and selflessness through the dialectic method according to the principles of Dependent Origination to the achievement of Nirvana.

      3) Based on the analysis of the concepts of Momentariness in Madhyamika philosophy, it is suggested that all material and mental matters are carried out based on the causes and factors in each moment. All kinds of thing changes in the stream line and nothing is permanent even in a short moment (momentariness perspective). All kinds of things are mutually depended based on the causes and factors. The nature of all kinds of things is just empty. The attainment of the momentariness is the attainment of carelessness in living with consciousness in each moment and truly realizing the momentariness with wisdom of mental cultivation to consider the reality of all things as the emptiness conditions of desire and delusion and emptiness of the ultimate description to the highest salvation as Nirvana.