Echoes Of India: A History Podcast A South Indian Buddha
Jan 2, 2019
Discover how Buddhism flourished in South India as Anirudh delves into the life of Nagarjuna, the 'Second Buddha,' and his revolutionary philosophy of shunyata, or emptiness. The vibrant culture of ancient Andhra and its merchant-funded stupas come to life, alongside the political shifts from the Ikshvaku dynasty. Learn about the fascinating urban life in Vijayapuri, complete with Greco-Roman influences, and lament the loss of Nagarjuna Konda's archaeological treasures due to modern development.
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Debating To Discover Emptiness
- Nagarjuna used opponents' methods to expose contradictions and develop shunyata, emptiness, as a radical philosophical tool.
- His approach reframed causation by denying fixed essences and explaining change via relational dependence.
Philosophy Rebooted Buddhist Thought
- Madhyamika gave Buddhists intellectual tools to confront Vedic schools while deepening Buddhist metaphysics.
- Nagarjuna's skepticism revitalized Buddhism by turning Buddha's clinical psychology into rigorous ontology.
Legend Of The Harem And Renunciation
- A colorful legend claims Nagarjuna used magic to infiltrate a king's harem and later renounced desire after his friends were killed.
- The tale likely invented converts-from-Brahmin prestige into a dramatic origin for his renunciation.
