Download or read book Metaphor and Literalism in Buddhism written by Soonil Hwang and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2006-09-27 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soonil Hwang studies the doctrinal development of nirvana in the Pali Nikaaya and subsequent tradition and compares it with the Chinese aagama and its traditional interpretation. He clarifies early doctrinal developments of Nirvana and traces the word and related terms back to their original metaphorical contexts, elucidating diverse interpretations and doctrinal and philosophical developments in the abhidharma exegeses and treatises of Southern and Northern Buddhist schools. The book finally examines which school, if any, kept the original meaning and reference of Nirvana.