Hakamaya, N.

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Hakamaya Noriaki(b. 1943 - )

Hakamaya Noriaki is a Japanese Buddhist scholar who is associated with what is known as "Critical Buddhism." According to Jamie Hubbard, "The term critical Buddhism (hihan Bukkyō) refers to Hakamaya Noriaki (1943– ) and Matsumoto Shirō’s (1950– ) critique of Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha) and original enlightenment (hongaku) as not Buddhist. Theological and apologetic in nature, yet using the traditional textual and philological methods of academic scholarship (both scholars are specialists in Indian and Tibetan Buddhist studies), critical Buddhism asserts that Buddha-nature and similar doctrines are examples of Hindu-like thinking of a substantial self (ātman), which Buddhism opposes with the doctrines of no-self and causality (pratītyasamutpāda). Critical Buddhism further asserts that these monistic doctrines deny language and thinking in favor of an ineffable and nonconceptual mysticism contrary to the discriminating awareness (prajñā) and selfless compassion that constitutes Buddhist awakening." (Source: "Critical Buddhism (Hihan Bukkyō)." In Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Vol. 1, 189. Macmillan Reference USA, 2004)

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  • Komazawa University · workplace affiliation
  • Sōtō Zen · religious affiliation