Linguistic Approach to Buddhist Thought

Abstract

Employing linguistic and philosophical methods the author aims to establish the connection of various terms with the Theravada on the one hand and with the multitude of meaning preferred by the Mahayana Buddhist texts on the other. To determine how such fundamental terms as nekkhamma, dipa, ksanti, sat, prajna, mana, kamma, anadikalika, anatman, avidya, and pratyaya were used in the two main trends of Buddhist thought. The author intends to carry out the delicate linguistic analysis necessary for its proper evaluation.