Dignaga's Theory of Perception: Between Ordinary and Extra-Ordinary

Abstract

This thesis is about the theory of perception propounded by Dignaga, a Buddhist thinker in India, in the medieval era (circa A.D. 480-5401). He defines perception as "cognition free from conceptual construction." To figure out how this statement should be understood is our main task. My main thesis is this: In Dignaga's theory, perception is primarily the concept-free state of mind obtained by some effort, quite likely a meditative one, based on an idealistic view of reality.