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The ground of knowing: on the different modes of knowing according to the “Great Perfection” (rDzogs pa chen po)

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Abstract

The phenomenon of ‘Knowing’ (Tib. Shes pa; Skt. Jñāna) has a crucial role in Buddhist explanations about the determination of individual realities. According to these explanations particular modes of knowing are connected to specific ways of perceiving and, even, constituting reality. As the ideal state of reality according to Buddhist doctrine is that of an unconditioned liberation, numerous traditions have examined and described the mode of knowing which characterizes such a state. Among these, we find several traditions that related such a mode with a claim concerning the innateness of an unconditioned state. This paper is meant to discuss some of these traditions, mainly ‘The Great Perfection’ (Tib. rDzogs pa chen po), a Tibetan non-dual tradition that asserted a mode of primordial knowing which is present in each moment of awareness. By discussing the intuitive qualities of this mode, we aim to show how an inherent mode of non-dual awareness can be explained through a comprehensive description of the basic aspects of lived experience.

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Laish, E. The ground of knowing: on the different modes of knowing according to the “Great Perfection” (rDzogs pa chen po). J Indian Philos 46, 83–112 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-017-9338-y

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