The Logic of Unity: The Discovery of Zero and Emptiness in Prajñaparamita Thought(SUNY series in Buddhist Studies)

This clear and elegant translation reveals how a modern Japanese thinker dared to show the basic flaw of Western epistemology. In unmasking this limitation, Matsuo presents an Eastern view of a unified experience, and provides an epistemological basis for comparative philosophy. Matsuo notes that while early Greek thought began by focusing on the right counsel ("Know thyself"), since then Western thought has been influenced by empiricistic analysis fired by the rise of scientific philosophy. The author thus turns to Eastern epistemology, in particular Buddhist thought, for clues to the unified experience. The seminal idea of emptiness (sunyata) plays a distinct role in this discovery. The concept of emptiness encompasses the whole dimension of perception where there is no room for separation into mind and body and/or any other form of dichotomy. Once it is known that the total dimension of perception—the logic of unity—functions in each and every person, then and only then can the field of comparative thought and philosophy be cleared of al preconceptions and move into a more fruitful exchange of ideas. Until such a time, Matsuo claims, we are hopelessly engaged in merely refining the epistemological process without ever being able to understand the very basis of intelligence.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Hajime Nakamura Translator's Introduction Kenneth K. Inada Preface Why Philosophy? Why Comparative Philosophy? Western and Eastern Philosophy Chapter I Methodology of Comparative Philosophy --Realization of mind-base and intuitive unconsciousness-- Locus of the Problem and Its Development Definition and method My methodology On philosophizing Diagram of the Mind-base in East-West Context Space and Time as Modes of Intuition/span> Evidences of Intuitive Unconscious Demonstration No. 1-1 Demonstration No. 1-2 Demonstration No. 1-3 Demonstration No. 1-4 Logic East and West Recapitulation Comparative philosophy and contrast of ideas Realization: holistic man versus individual Weakness of Western epistemology Man is born twice Philosophy as the foundation of all disciplines What is man? Chapter II The Logic of Unity --Discovery of zero and emptiness in prajnaparamita thought-- The Reason for a Logic of Unity Metaphysical Bias and True Human Orientation The Limits of Religion and the Social Sciences The Nature of Buddhism Ten Articles on the Logic of Unity The Kegon Ten Profound Gates Conclusions Further analysis of the ten articles Holistic consciousness Dialectic Dialectical epistemology Discovery of philosophical zero Dialectic of religion and philosophy Principle of dual truths Unitary dialectic Integrative dialectic Dialectical historicism Conception of life and world view Chapter III The Truth in the Heart Sutra The Heart Sutra (Prajnapramitahrdaya-sutra ) Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Further on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva On Emptiness (Sunyata ) Instructions to Sariputra Nature of the Various Dharmas Nature of Emptiness (Sunyata ) Nature of Ignorance (Avidya )

About the Author :
Kenneth K. Inada is Professor of Philosophy at State University of New York at Buffalo and co-editor of Buddhism and American Thinkers, also published by SUNY Press. Hosaku Matsuo was a practicing physician and founding member of the Japanese Association of Comparative Philosophy.