EARLY BUDDHIST METAPHYSICS: THE MAKING OF A PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION

By Noa Ronkin

Book Description

This scholarly exploration traces a pivotal transformation within early Buddhist thought, examining how the tradition evolved from its foundational teachings into the sophisticated philosophical framework of the Abhidhamma. Noa Ronkin guides readers through this crucial doctrinal shift in Theravada Buddhism, revealing how the Buddha's original insights developed into a comprehensive metaphysical system.

The work illuminates the philosophical journey from Buddhism's earliest conceptual foundations to the systematic approach that emerged in later centuries. Through careful analysis, Ronkin demonstrates how Buddhist thinkers gradually moved from focusing primarily on knowledge and understanding toward constructing a detailed worldview centered on the fundamental concept of dhamma.

For those seeking to understand Buddhism's intellectual development, this book offers valuable insights into how spiritual traditions grow and adapt over time. Rather than presenting Buddhism as a static doctrine, Ronkin shows how successive generations of practitioners refined and expanded upon the Buddha's teachings, creating new frameworks for understanding reality and consciousness.

The author combines expertise in comparative philosophy with Buddhist studies, making complex doctrinal developments accessible to serious students of Buddhist thought. This investigation reveals not only what changed in early Buddhist philosophy, but also the underlying reasons driving these transformations, providing readers with a deeper appreciation for the dynamic nature of spiritual traditions.