Prajnaptivada

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

The Prajñaptivāda (Conceptualist) school of Buddhism split from Golulikas in late third century BCE. The Prajñaptivādins were early articulators of the two truths doctrine that is so important to Mahāyāna Buddhism, where it is usually found in the tension between upāya and prajñā. The Prajñaptivādins distinguished between saṃvrti (conventional) and paramārtha (ultimate) truth, and between tattva dharmas (real phenomena) and prañapti ones (mere concepts). They grouped the senses and their objects, along with basic elements, as mere concepts, while identifying the skandhas and suffering as real.

There is evidence that the Prajñaptivādins were an influence on [[Nagarjuna|Template:Nagarjuna]], who is also among the storied promulgators of the two truths doctrine (using some of the same technical terms), and who in his Mūlamadhyamakakārikā only cites one text by name, that being the Kaccāyanagotta Sutta, of which the Prajñaptivādins were known to be fond.

See also

• Schools of Buddhism
• Early Buddhist schools
• Nikaya Buddhism