Avijja and Monistic Emanationism in Original Buddhism by Ken Wheeler

Ken Wheeler AVIJJA AND MONISTIC EMANATIONISM IN ORIGINAL BUDDHISM.pdf (150.5 KB)

Introduction to the Book

Avijja and Monistic Emanationism in Original Buddhism by Ken Wheeler is a profound exploration of the metaphysical principles underlying the Buddhist concept of avijja (ignorance or agnosis) and its correlation with Monistic Emanationism. Through a detailed examination of early Buddhist doctrine and its alignment with Platonic and Vedantic metaphysics, Wheeler reveals the ontological and cosmological significance of avijja as a privative principle essential to understanding the Absolute and the nature of becoming.


About the Author

Ken Wheeler is a scholar of metaphysics and ancient philosophy, renowned for his works on field theory, magnetism, and the synthesis of ancient wisdom with modern intellectual inquiry. His writings challenge conventional interpretations of philosophical doctrines, providing readers with a deeper understanding of metaphysical principles.


Key Themes and Concepts

1. Avijja as a Privative Principle

  • Wheeler redefines avijja beyond its conventional translation as “ignorance,” presenting it as the privative or extrinsic attribute of the Absolute.
  • Avijja represents the self-objectification of the Absolute, the act through which it manifests as the phenomenal world.
  • It is described as the “unillumined” aspect of light, essential to the process of emanation.

2. Emanationism in Buddhist Doctrine

  • Emanationism is positioned as the only coherent cosmological model in Buddhist and Platonic thought.
  • The Absolute, identified with Brahman or the Monad, is seen as manifesting through its attribute, avijja, leading to creation and becoming.
  • Wheeler contrasts Emanationism with Creationism, highlighting the former’s focus on the inseparability of the Absolute and its attribute.

3. The Nature of the Absolute and the Soul

  • The Absolute is presented as a simplex principle devoid of duality, whose nature and act are indistinguishable.
  • Avijja is the privative “will to other,” while the Atman (Self) is the self-reflexive realization of the Absolute’s potential.
  • Liberation is achieved through the cessation of avijja, allowing the Self to realize its true nature as Brahman.

4. The Role of Avijja in Samsara

  • Avijja is identified as the root cause of samsaric becoming, perpetuating the cycle of birth and death through ignorance of the true Self.
  • Wheeler explores the interdependence of avijja with paticcasamuppada (Dependent Origination), showing how ignorance conditions the arising of phenomena.

5. Liberation Through Wisdom

  • The text emphasizes the importance of wisdom (vijja) as the antidote to avijja, leading to the cessation of becoming (bhava) and ultimate liberation.
  • Practices such as mindfulness, meditative absorption, and negative dialectics are highlighted as means to transcend avijja.

Chapter Overview

Chapter 1: Defining Avijja

  • Introduces avijja as a compound term meaning “the privation of light or wisdom.”
  • Explains its dual role as both the extrinsic attribute of the Absolute and the root of empirical ignorance.

Chapter 2: Monistic Emanationism

  • Explores the philosophical framework of Emanationism in Buddhist and Platonic thought.
  • Demonstrates how avijja functions as the dynamic principle of creation within this model.

Chapter 3: Avijja and Samsara

  • Examines the role of avijja in perpetuating samsara through the framework of Dependent Origination.
  • Discusses the relationship between avijja, karma, and the aggregates.

Chapter 4: Wisdom and Liberation

  • Details the process of overcoming avijja through wisdom (vijja) and self-realization.
  • Highlights the central role of citta (mind) in achieving Nibbāna.

Chapter 5: Avijja in Comparative Philosophy

  • Compares the concept of avijja in Buddhist thought with its counterparts in Vedantic and Platonic metaphysics.
  • Discusses the interplay of light, shadow, and self-objectification in these traditions.

Conclusion

Avijja and Monistic Emanationism in Original Buddhism offers a groundbreaking perspective on the metaphysical foundations of Buddhist doctrine. By reinterpreting avijja as a privative principle intrinsic to the Absolute, Ken Wheeler bridges ancient Buddhist teachings with the broader tradition of Monistic Emanationism. This work is an indispensable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of Buddhism.