A Comparative Study on the Notion of Nothingness in Early Buddhism and Sartre’s Existentialism

Abstract

The term “Nothingness” has been ordinarily regarded as the absence of persons or things. Nevertheless, it has been recognized from the internal perspective which is consciousness rather than the external perspective which we contact through the senses. According to Buddhism and Existentialism, the realization of nothingness is the main goal to free oneself from this world. Jean Paul-Sartre states that nothingness must be given at the core of Being to apprehend the particular type of realities. In his being and nothingness, he says, “nothingness lies coiled in the heart of being – like a worm.” Sartre does not reject the Husserlian idea of transcendental ego, but he slightly changes it. Since this was not part of the experience reflected on, he refers that it is the transcendent ego constituted by reflection rather than a transcendental ego that underlies all experience. As a result, consciousness becomes independent, and it is described as a lack or nothingness. Without the ego, consciousness has no contents and thereby nothingness. In Buddhism, nothingness or void is considered as dependent origination. It cannot grow by itself unless it is nurtured by craving (taṇhā) and action (kamma). So, consciousness is not annihilated, but it is interdependent. It always includes “five aggregates” (pañca-khandha), “eighteen-elements” (dhātu), twelve sense faculties (āyatana), and “dependent-origination” (patticcasamuppada). Therefore, the consciousness cannot be isolated from these factors. There is a different comprehension of nothingness in Buddhism and Existentialism. For Buddhists, human beings live in the world of sufferings. Hence, Buddhist contemplate nothingness on everything to attain Nibbāna in this life. For Sartre, Human existence is regarded to be absurd. So, he must apply his freedom which is nothingness to give a meaning in life. The objective of this paper is to explain the similarities and dissimilarities of nothingness in Buddhism and Existentialism.

KEYWORDS: Existentialism, Buddhism, Consciousness, Nothingness, Suññata.