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Chapter 13: Refuting truly existent sense organs and objects

Verses 302-306

Refuting the inherent existence of senses and objects. The teachings on Chapter 13 of Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way begin at the end of the last talk in Chapter 12, given on October 2, 2014.

  • Refuting the true existence of objects apprehended by the senses in general
  • If something has one essence it could only be one thing with one name
  • If an object is truly existent you should see all of its parts simultaneously
  • An object is not inherently a whole, a composite, or a component
  • Things do not exist the way they appear to the senses

74 Aryadeva’s 400 Stanzas: Verses 302-306 (download)

http://www.youtu.be/txi8rQrKPTA

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.

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