[Buddha-l] Pali Canon: Tetralemma

[jkirk]

Ahy yes--duh--I have come across this before but not recently........ 
Issue solved by the two truth view. For me anyway.
Joanna

===================

> Hans--what does tetralemma mean? I know tetra (three) but lemma?

Tetra is actually four.  As I understand it, tetralemma refers to four
logical possibilities of a proposition (X):

1) X
2) Not X
3) Both (X and Not X)
4) Neither (X nor Not X) 

Denial of all four possibilities occurs in a number of conversations in the
Pali Canon and, more famously, in Nagarjuna's work.  In the Aggi-Vacchagotta
Sutta (in the Pali Canon), the following exchanges occur in which all four
logical possibilities are denied:

Exchange A:  X = (roughly) "After death a Tathagata exists."


"But, Master Gotama, the monk whose mind is thus released: Where does he
reappear?"
"'Reappear,' Vaccha, doesn't apply."
"In that case, Master Gotama, he does not reappear."
"'Does not reappear,' Vaccha, doesn't apply."
"...both does & does not reappear."
"...doesn't apply."
"...neither does nor does not reappear."
"...doesn't apply."
"How is it, Master Gotama, when Master Gotama is asked if the monk
reappears... does not reappear... both does & does not reappear... neither
does nor does not reappear, he says, '...doesn't apply' in each case. At
this point, Master Gotama, I am befuddled; at this point, confused. The
modicum of clarity coming to me from your earlier conversation is now
obscured."
"Of course you're befuddled, Vaccha. Of course you're confused. Deep,
Vaccha, is this phenomenon, hard to see, hard to realize, tranquil, refined,
beyond the scope of conjecture, subtle, to-be-experienced by the wise. For
those with other views, other practices, other satisfactions, other aims,
other teachers, it is difficult to know. That being the case, I will now put
some questions to you. Answer as you see fit. What do you think, Vaccha: If
a fire were burning in front of you, would you know that, 'This fire is
burning in front of me'?"

Best wishes,
-Hans.

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