A Critique of the Binary: Ultimate vs. Relative Truth in Buddhist Philosophy

Is "ultimate truth" a static, abstract inventory of the universe, or is it something more personal and profound? In this insightful essay, Bhikkhu Dhammananda challenges the rigid binary between "ultimate" and "relative" truth, a cornerstone of traditional Abhidhamma. He argues that by prioritizing abstract doctrines, we risk devaluing the very territory of our lived experience—our relationships, our ethics, and our personal growth. Drawing on the five niyāmas (natural laws), he proposes a powerful alternative: a developmental model where truth is a moving horizon. What is "ultimate" is not what is most fundamental, but what is most relevant to our current stage of being. This essay offers a compelling vision of philosophy not as a collection of facts, but as a practical path to seeing more clearly and becoming more whole.

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