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Awakening stands at the core of the Buddhist scheme of deliverance; hence, an understanding of its implications is of central relevance for a proper positioning of Buddhism in relation to the dialogue between science and religions.
The expression “awakening” renders the Sanskrit and Pāli term bodhi, sometimes also translated as “enlightenment.” This latter translation is less apt, however, given that the term bodhi derives from the verbal root budh, which means quite literally “to wake up” or “awaken.” An example for this usage can be found in a description of a person who sees various beautiful sights in a dream, all of which disappear as soon as he wakes up (Trenckner and Chalmers 1888–1896, I 365). The expression used to describe such waking up employs a derivative of the same root budh.
The term “enlightenment,” besides carrying unwarranted connotations as a referent to a European intellectual movement, runs the risk...
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References
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Anālayo, B. (2013). Awakening. In: Runehov, A.L.C., Oviedo, L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sciences and Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8265-8_1619
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