Tathātā (/ˌtætəˈtɑː/; Sanskrit: तथाता; Pali: tathatā) is a Buddhist term variously translated as "thusness" or "suchness," referring to the nature of reality free from conceptual elaborations and the subject–object distinction.[1] Although it is a significant concept in Mahayana Buddhism, it is also used in the Theravada tradition.[2][3]
The Buddha referred to himself as the Tathāgata, which can mean either "One who has thus come" or "One who has thus gone",[4] and can also be interpreted as "One who has arrived at suchness".
Theravada Buddhismedit
In Theravada, this term designates the nature of existence (bhāva), the truth which applies to things. According to the Kathavatthu, tathātā is not an unconditioned or un-constructed (asankhata) phenomenon.[5] The only phenomenon which is un-constructed in Theravada is Nibbana.[6]
According to Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, tathātā is merely the way things are, the truth of all things: "When tathātā is seen, the three characteristics of anicca [impermanence], dukkha [suffering], and anatta [not-self] are seen, sunnata [emptiness] is seen, and idappaccayata [specific conditionality] is seen. Tathātā is the summary of them all -- merely thus, only thus, not-otherness."[7]
Mahayana Buddhismedit
Tathatā in the East Asian Mahayana tradition is seen as representing the base reality and can be used to terminate the use of words. A 5th-century Chinese Mahayana scripture entitled Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana describes the concept more fully:
In its very origin suchness is of itself endowed with sublime attributes. It manifests the highest wisdom which shines throughout the world, it has true knowledge and a mind resting simply in its own being. It is eternal, blissful, its own self-being and the purest simplicity; it is invigorating, immutable, free... Because it possesses all these attributes and is deprived of nothing, it is designated both as the Womb of Tathagata and the Dharma Body of Tathagata.[8]
R. H. Robinson, echoing D. T. Suzuki, conveys how the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra perceives dharmata through the portal of śūnyatā: "The Laṅkāvatāra is always careful to balance Śūnyatā with Tathatā, or to insist that when the world is viewed as śūnya, empty, it is grasped in its suchness."[9]
Madhyamakaedit
In the Madhyamaka Mahayana tradition, Tathātā is an uncompounded permanent phenomenon, (as is Nirvana – in Madhyamaka, not being products, all absences are uncompounded and permanent - not everlasting, but not subject to decay and dissolution)). Tathātā is the natural absence of intrinsic/inherent existence or nature. It is a natural absence, because intrinsic existence (or the equivalent synonyms) is a fiction, or a non-existent: Intrinsic existence is the faulty object of an ignorant consciousness. All fictions, being fictions, are naturally absent. So, because of this, the fiction of inherent existence is absent from all phenomena, and that absence is Tathātā..[10]
^Goldwag, Arthur (2014). 'Isms & 'Ologies: All the movements, ideologies and doctrines that have shaped our world. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 206. ISBN9780804152631. Most of its doctrines agree with Theravada Buddhism, but Mahayana does contain a transcendent element: tathata, or suchness; the truth that governs the universe
^Stevenson, Jay (2000). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eastern Philosophy. Penguin. p. 144. ISBN9781101158364.
^Andre Bareau, Les sectes bouddhiques du Petit Véhicule (Ecole Française d'Extreme-Orient, 1955), Chapitre I 'Les Mahasanghika', p. 236
^James P. McDermott. Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies, Volume VII: Abhidharma Buddhism to 150 A.D, see entry on the Kathavatthu.
^Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, translated by Santikaro Bhikkhu (1997) The Natural Cure for Spiritual Disease: A Guide into Buddhist Science. 2021-01-17 at the Wayback Machine Evolution/Liberation, Published by The Dhammadana Foundation.
^Berry, Thomas (1996). Religions of India: Hinduism, Yoga, Buddhism. Columbia University Press. p. 170. ISBN978-0-231-10781-5.
^Robinson, Richard H. (1957). "Some Logical Aspects of Nagarjuna's System". Philosophy East & West. 6 (4): 306. doi:10.2307/1397476. JSTOR 1397476.
^Hopkins, Jeffrey (183). Meditation on Emptiness. Wisdom Publications. p. 218. ISBN0861710142.}
Sourcesedit
Buswell; Lopez (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism
February 18, 2024
tathātā, ɑː, sanskrit, तथ, pali, tathatā, buddhist, term, variously, translated, thusness, suchness, referring, nature, reality, free, from, conceptual, elaborations, subject, object, distinction, although, significant, concept, mahayana, buddhism, also, used,. Tathata ˌ t ae t e ˈ t ɑː Sanskrit तथ त Pali tathata is a Buddhist term variously translated as thusness or suchness referring to the nature of reality free from conceptual elaborations and the subject object distinction 1 Although it is a significant concept in Mahayana Buddhism it is also used in the Theravada tradition 2 3 TathataChinese nameChinese真如TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhenruWade GilesChen juYue CantoneseJyutpingZan1jyu4Middle ChineseMiddle ChineseTsjen nzjwoTibetan nameTibetanད བཞ ན ཉ ད TranscriptionsWyliede bzhin nyidVietnamese nameVietnamese alphabetchan nhưKorean nameHangul진여TranscriptionsRevised RomanizationJinyeoMcCune ReischauerChinyŏJapanese nameKanji真如HiraganaしんにょTranscriptionsRomanizationShin nyoFilipino nameTagalogTathataSanskrit nameSanskritतथ त Pali namePalitathata Contents 1 The Buddha 2 Theravada Buddhism 3 Mahayana Buddhism 3 1 Madhyamaka 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesThe Buddha editThe Buddha referred to himself as the Tathagata which can mean either One who has thus come or One who has thus gone 4 and can also be interpreted as One who has arrived at suchness Theravada Buddhism editIn Theravada this term designates the nature of existence bhava the truth which applies to things According to the Kathavatthu tathata is not an unconditioned or un constructed asankhata phenomenon 5 The only phenomenon which is un constructed in Theravada is Nibbana 6 According to Buddhadasa Bhikkhu tathata is merely the way things are the truth of all things When tathata is seen the three characteristics of anicca impermanence dukkha suffering and anatta not self are seen sunnata emptiness is seen and idappaccayata specific conditionality is seen Tathata is the summary of them all merely thus only thus not otherness 7 Mahayana Buddhism editTathata in the East Asian Mahayana tradition is seen as representing the base reality and can be used to terminate the use of words A 5th century Chinese Mahayana scripture entitled Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana describes the concept more fully In its very origin suchness is of itself endowed with sublime attributes It manifests the highest wisdom which shines throughout the world it has true knowledge and a mind resting simply in its own being It is eternal blissful its own self being and the purest simplicity it is invigorating immutable free Because it possesses all these attributes and is deprived of nothing it is designated both as the Womb of Tathagata and the Dharma Body of Tathagata 8 R H Robinson echoing D T Suzuki conveys how the Laṅkavatara Sutra perceives dharmata through the portal of sunyata The Laṅkavatara is always careful to balance Sunyata with Tathata or to insist that when the world is viewed as sunya empty it is grasped in its suchness 9 Madhyamaka edit In the Madhyamaka Mahayana tradition Tathata is an uncompounded permanent phenomenon as is Nirvana in Madhyamaka not being products all absences are uncompounded and permanent not everlasting but not subject to decay and dissolution Tathata is the natural absence of intrinsic inherent existence or nature It is a natural absence because intrinsic existence or the equivalent synonyms is a fiction or a non existent Intrinsic existence is the faulty object of an ignorant consciousness All fictions being fictions are naturally absent So because of this the fiction of inherent existence is absent from all phenomena and that absence is Tathata 10 See also editTen suchnesses Reality in Buddhism Dharmadhatu Ziran Daoism Tattva Hinduism Haecceity from Latin this ness Quiddity from Latin what ness References edit Buswell amp Lopez 2014 p entry tathata Goldwag Arthur 2014 Isms amp Ologies All the movements ideologies and doctrines that have shaped our world Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group p 206 ISBN 9780804152631 Most of its doctrines agree with Theravada Buddhism but Mahayana does contain a transcendent element tathata or suchness the truth that governs the universe Stevenson Jay 2000 The Complete Idiot s Guide to Eastern Philosophy Penguin p 144 ISBN 9781101158364 Oxford dictionary of Buddhism P296 Andre Bareau Les sectes bouddhiques du Petit Vehicule Ecole Francaise d Extreme Orient 1955 Chapitre I Les Mahasanghika p 236 James P McDermott Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies Volume VII Abhidharma Buddhism to 150 A D see entry on the Kathavatthu Buddhadasa Bhikkhu translated by Santikaro Bhikkhu 1997 The Natural Cure for Spiritual Disease A Guide into Buddhist Science Archived 2021 01 17 at the Wayback Machine Evolution Liberation Published by The Dhammadana Foundation Berry Thomas 1996 Religions of India Hinduism Yoga Buddhism Columbia University Press p 170 ISBN 978 0 231 10781 5 Robinson Richard H 1957 Some Logical Aspects of Nagarjuna s System Philosophy East amp West 6 4 306 doi 10 2307 1397476 JSTOR 1397476 Hopkins Jeffrey 183 Meditation on Emptiness Wisdom Publications p 218 ISBN 0861710142 Sources editBuswell Lopez 2014 The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tathata amp oldid 1163376111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
