Is it possible to gain an
infallible perception of the reality in front of us? How can logical
reasoning transform the quality of our convictions? In this course we
will study a foundational Indian text on Buddhist logic, The Commentary on Valid Perception (Pramanavarttika), by Master Dharmakirti (630 AD), along with a Tibetan commentary by Purbuchok Jampa Tsultrim Gyatso (1825- 1901): The Key for Starting the Logic Machine (Rik-lam Trul-gyi De-mik).
We will examine the structure of Buddhist logic and the ancient forms
of debate. We will cover the correct motivation for debate; debating
tactics; the parts of a correct logical argument; how logic strengthens
faith; how studying logic leads to perceiving emptiness; contradictions
and relationships -- such as relationships of identity, or of cause and
effect; proving the absence of something; material causes and
contributing factors; valid perception; changing and unchanging things;
an outline of all existing things; the concept of time according to each
of the four schools of thought; and the reason why suffering has an end.
