Nagarjuna and the Philosophy of Openness

by Nancy McCagney

Description

In this innovative study of the philosopher Nagarjuna, Nancy McCagney demonstrates that the concept of space ('akasa') in early Indian Mahayana Buddhism is the root metaphor for Nagarjuna's understanding of 'sunyata', or openness. Nagarjuna's use of the term 'sunyata' was new, and contrasted with the word's use in Pali Buddhist literature. By using the word to mean 'openness,' Nagarjuna was able to elucidate, through a deeper analysis of impermanence, a consistent philosophical foundation show more for the truth and efficacy of Gautama's Middle Way. McCagney's book will be important for those studying Indian philosophy, Buddhism, and the philosophy of religion. show less

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kukkurovaca 53 reviews

The best available translation of the मूलमध�?यमिककारिकाः. There are a number of bugs with McCagney's translation, not least of which her frankly silly campaign to translate शून�?यता as "openness" instead of the traditional, accepted, popular, and more literally accurate "emptiness." But, other than that she has fewer axes to grind than most translators of the MMK, and while she makes some errors and some poor choices, it is, on the whole, an extremely useful and relatively accessible translation, and her introduction is excellent -- providing a competent and comprehensive overview of Nagarjuna's historical context and some of the issues in Nagarjuna scholarship.

Sep 7, 2005

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