Buddhist Philosophy (India/Asia) Buddhist philosophy, originating with Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in 5th-century BCE India, is a non-theistic system focused on ending suffering (dukkha) through insight into the nature of reality. Its core teachings—the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path—emphasize ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom. Central concepts include impermanence (anicca), non-self (anatta), and dependent origination (all phenomena arise interdependently). Unlike Western metaphysics, Buddhism avoids speculation about a creator or eternal soul, prioritizing experiential liberation (nirvana) over theoretical truth. Schools like Theravāda stress monastic discipline and meditation; Mahāyāna introduces compassion (karuṇā) and the bodhisattva ideal—delaying enlightenment to help others. Later traditions, such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, integrate ritual, logic, and mindfulness. Buddhist epistemology and logic, especially in the works of Nāgārjuna and Dignāga, rival classical Western systems. Today, its mindfulness practices influence psychology and neuroscience. Buddhist philosophy doesn’t seek to explain the universe but to free beings from delusion—offering a path where ethics, meditation, and wisdom converge to transform suffering into peace.
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