The Philosophy of Buddhism: A “Totalistic” Synthesis

The book is structured as a progressive philosophical inquiry into Buddhist causation and totality. Part I examines pre-totalistic theories of causation, beginning with the dharma-theory of phenomenalism in Hīnayāna Buddhist thought and then moving to the causation-by-ideation theory of Mahāyāna subjective idealism. Part II introduces Buddhist Totalism through the doctrine of “causation-by-Tathatā,” establishing the conceptual basis for substance, function, and manifestation. Part III analyzes Tathatā as the essence of existence, including bhūta-tathatā, tathāgata-garbha, ālaya-vijñāna, original knowledge, non-knowledge, and explicit knowledge. Part IV develops the theory of manifestations through the three natures, consciousness, individuality, karma, ignorance, and knowledge. Part V turns to ontological manifestations through the trikāya doctrine, including nirmāṇa-kāya, sambhoga-kāya, and dharma-kāya, while also emphasizing Hua-yen principles of inter-inclusion and inclusiveness. Part VI concludes by clarifying the relation between Buddhist totality and Buddhist emptiness, presenting emptiness not as mere negation but as the all-containing openness through which Buddhist philosophical systems may be understood as mutually integrated dimensions of one total vision.