HomeUIC Research Journalvol. 17 no. 1 (2011)

Being or Nothing:A Blend of Buddhism, Heideggerian and Christian Philosophies

Armando B. Parantar

 

Abstract:

This paper unravels the ultimate realities in three perspectives which may be representatives of the European perceptions, Oriental traditions and Christian contemplations respectively. My work endeavours to pierce through the possibilities of a blend and of any distinction by way of pure discourse as my personal insights run through the emerging similarities of the three subjects. In the course of my learnings, I happen to find out the following: That for Heidegger, there is the world in its entirety revealing itself in history. This unfolds from its concealment; it reveals and hides itself at the same time, thereby allowing the continuous unfolding. Nothing exists to give birth to beings. The one whole reality reveals itself continuously in the consciousness of the Dasein as completely losing itself in the unfolding (Farrell Krell, 1977). That for Siddhartha Gautama, the truth of the wholeness and dynamism of life is Interdependent Arising. All is absolutely interrelated and constantly arising; assimilation of this principle leads one to Nirvana, a state of harmony and peace, a liberation from sufferings. There simply is the process constantly happening without a moment of permanence (Roller, 1995). That for St. Aquinas, his metaphysics of esse explains the single link that connects all beings in their particular essences with the esse purum, pure and subsisting esse, God (Caputo, 1982). Everything must live in one Universal Divine Family of the Father. A being of any real object like the self, exists inasmuch as it is the participation in the Being of God. The impermanence of existence is true, however there is a necessity of a 138 Being whose being never comes and goes and is the reservoir from which and to which beings happen to go. That only the metaphysics of Aquinas holds the self-being as true in itself while it belongs to the universal oneness. That if a being is either nothing or completely dependent upon the Being of its Creator, it is logical to filter the values of humility, and utter gratefulness for one s being as to be manifested in support to the entire reality through its very own life; that is to allow the unfolding of Being as conceived by Heidegger, to act only out of love and compassion in the Buddhist s right intention, or to love one another as I have loved you in the words of Christ. And that if reality is in constant flux, it is imperative that I submit myself completely into the flow. This calls me to be humble and to surrender myself into the flow or to join in the out-pouring of God towards His beloved creation.