Vaisesika Buddhism

Question 1

What doctrine does Vaisesika argue for

Answer 1

Realist metaphysics : atomist philosophy, wholes exist over and above their parts; they inhere in their parts

Question 2

what are the seven categories of existence

Answer 2

substance, quality, action, universals, differentiators, absence, inherence, language accurately describes reality

Question 3

explain substances

Answer 3

other categories inhere in it, persistent through change, a pot is a substance even through change redness will still be in it.

Question 4

what are eternal and non eternal substances

Answer 4

eternal = atoms
non-eternal = Composite material objects made from atomic combinations

Question 5

what is a quality

Answer 5

colour, taste, knowledge (24)

Question 5

how does the cow analogy explain the Vaisesika stance on substances

Answer 5

Just as a cow can exist without her calves, but calves cannot exist without the cow,
likewise, a substance can exist independently, but its qualities cannot exist without the substance

Question 5

What is the ‘self’ atman, for Vaisesika

Answer 5

a susbtance - it collates and lets us compare data of the 5 senses -> mental states are qualities which must inhere in a substance = a self

Question 6

what are universals,

Answer 6

repeated entity instantiated in multiple particular things -. red in many shades

Question 7

Karma/ action

Answer 7

has no singular idrection,

Question 8

what is the significance of the differentiator

Answer 8

it is what makes one atom or self different from another, even if they have no distinguishing qualities.
a unique “marker” that doesn’t come from qualities but from being numerically separate

Question 9

what is the link between the differentiator and absence

Answer 9

Absence (abhāva) is the non-existence of something where it might be expected.

For example, the absence of your self in my body, or the absence of my self in your body
- what is not present in one that is present in the other