Re: [Buddha-l] Niścaya again

[Stephen Hodge]

Richard Hayes wrote<

A possible alternative to Siderits's view, one
expressed by Birgit Kellner,* is that the word in question refers to
something stronger than just being convinced; it may refer to the fact of
KNOWING that something is the case.
----
If niścaya is used uniformly in Indian philosophical discourse, then this 
interpretation is correct.  I have had  a quick look through five or six of 
the major commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, where the term is discussed. 
They talk about, for example, having niścaya that the appearance of water in 
a mirage is not real water.   They are clearly talking about certain / 
definite knowledge which distinguishes tattva from mithyaa.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge