LANGUAGE AND TRUTH IN THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Abstract

"... These (selves) are then worldly names, worldly languages, worldly speech, and worldly concepts which the Thus-come (Tathagata) says but does not cling to."

The above saying of the Buddha reveals that he is well aware of the illusion of language. This has inspired the researcher to study his view of language m order to attempt to answer questions such as “What is the status of language in Buddhism?,” “What is the Buddhist theory of meaning?,” and "What is the actual relationship between language and Truth?”

The relationship between language and Truth is the core teaching of the Abhidhamma The Abhidhamma concentrates on the detailed explanation of ultimate truth (paramatthasacca), and the distinction between the ultimate and concepts (panfiatti), in short, between Truth and language. The Suitanta, on the other hand, emphasizes on ways to extinguish suffering (dukkha), and says almost nothing on the ultimate.