EOB:About
Mission
This aim of this website is to explore the theories and practices presented by the Buddha and his followers. More specifically, this site endeavors to:
- Explain the basic concepts of Buddhism
- Provide clear explanations of Buddhist terms and concepts in a manner similar to the Abhidharma traditions of Buddhism
- Present the distinctions between the major traditions within Buddhism today
The approach of this site is inspired by the Ri-mé philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism, which advocated respect for all traditions.
Naming conventions
This site generally uses Sanskrit names as the main title for the articles on Buddhist terms. For details, see EOB:Naming conventions.
A note on the importance of precise definitions in Buddhist scholasticism
Contemporary scholar Mattia Salvini states:
- Buddhist scholasticism is in principle conservative, relying on sets of precise definitions (lakṣaṇa) that show remarkable uniformity throughout different systems. Recognizing the defining traits of the dharmas is “higher cognition” (prajñā) and is therefore relevant for both soteriology and ontology. To those coming from a different philosophical background, the idea of relying on succinct definitions in order to elicit a cognition of the nature of reality may appear odd. We must remember, though, that the “cognitive shift” from ignorance to its elimination is mediated by a gradual process of training in discipline and attention, for which clear, unambiguous, and brief definitions might create a workable system of references. What may appear as scholastic technicality is in fact linked to the broader Buddhist context of the philosophical texts we are trying to comprehend. Furthermore, Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit are precisely that—technical terms, thrice removed from their approximate English renderings due to idiom, etymology, and contextual sense (more often than not, the three being closely connected).
- ―
Salvini, Mattia (2015), "Language and Existence in Madhyamaka and Yogācāra", in Garfield, Jay L.; Westerhoff, Jan, Madhyamaka and Yogacara: Allies or Rivals?, Oxford University Press
- ―
About Buddhist traditions
There are many different branches and/or sub-traditions within the Buddhist tradition. For the sake of clarity and consistency this site generally refers to:
- two Buddhist textual traditions (Sanskrit tradition and Pali tradition) and
- three living traditions (Tibetan Buddhism, East Asian Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism).
Other contemporary sources might describe these branches slightly differently.
About us
Getting involved
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Contact
Email: admin[at]encyclopediaofbuddhism.org
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