Early Buddhist Metaphysics

What did the Buddha have to say about key metaphysical topics such as what exists and how it is structured? I'll discuss this most basic aspect of philosophy and how the Buddha's views fit into some contemporary discussions of topics such as realism and non-realism.

📙 Check out my new book, A Handbook of Early Buddhist Wisdom, with a Foreword by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: https://books2read.com/buddhisthandbook

🧡 If you find this material useful, check out my Patreon page and get fun benefits like exclusive videos, audio-only versions, and extensive show notes:   / dougsseculardharma  

🧡 You can also make donations through: https://paypal.me/dougsdharma

☸️ Free mini-course at the Online Dharma Institute: onlinedharma.org.

🎙Check out my podcast with Jon Aaron, Diggin' the Dharma: https://digginthedharma.com/

✅ Sutta mentioned:
https://suttacentral.net/sn22.94/en/s...

✅ My paper:
“Was the Buddha an Anti-Realist?” Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, 2015. https://www.academia.edu/19291978/Was...

Webpage: https://www.dougsdharma.com/
Facebook:   / onlinedharmainstitute  
Mastodon: https://mindly.social/@dougsdharma
Twitter:   / dougsdharma  

Thumbnail image courtesy of Zafer from Pixabay.

❤️ Thanks to Patreon Patrons:
Anonymous (2)
DunJing
John Oborne
Scarlett Farrow
Jimmy Maa
Debbie Mattison Fine Art
Steve H.
Ron Peat
Matthew Smith
JC
Shantha Wengappuli
Karma_CAC
Jorge Seguel
Christopher Apostolof
GailJM
Brett Merritt
David Bell
T Pham
VCR
Upayadhi
Andi and Erik
ATGuerrero686
Michael Scherrer
khobe schofield
Alex Perdomo
Benji Forsyth
Blaze Way
Sonny Flink
Steve Marlor
Joy L Lee
Andrew Tom
Anthony Tucker
Karlee R
Ethan M
Billy in Singapore
Olivia Otter
Carl Lennartson
xiao mao
Jeff Harvey
Andrew Ingrouille
Kenneth Grandchamp
Doug Fonner
Rene Gariepy
Russell Needham
Smoggyrob
Mac Roja
Bernardo
Clémence Ortega Douville
Kwan Alex
Scott Johnston
Richard J Beninger
Nathanael O. Arnquist
SaturnianMandala
Trin P
Letesa Isler
Dorien Izel
Robert Paterson
Jake Tobiason
Louvenia Ortega
Steve S.
Richard Rappuhn
Sarah Kress
Miri F Fairchild
John Aaron
Paul Niklewski
Kong Ing Kai
Dave Gorman

00:00 Intro
01:54 The Buddha on what exists
02:41 The case of “forms”
04:54 The mental aggregates
06:12 “Realms of existence”
08:25 Two key aspects to the structure of what exists
11:35 Karmic structure
13:13 Borderline topics in metaphysics
14:27 Realism or anti-realism? Historical options and influences
17:39 The Buddha’s pragmatism
21:29 Summary of early Buddhist metaphysics

Note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links are affiliate links where I will earn a very small commission on purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of making these videos. Thank you!