The documentary “There Is No Such Thing as Truth” examines how Nagarjuna’s centuries-old Buddhist philosophy has inspired contemporary scholars from various disciplines.
This philosophy states that nothing exists completely on its own, everything is connected – we need nature, the earth and each other to exist. The documentary invites you to look at reality in a new way.
Imagine: You are standing next to the giant Niagara Falls. You hear the water splashing and feel the power of the waterfalls. But a bird or fish will likely encounter the same waterfalls very differently than you do. Is there such a thing as an objective truth for a waterfall?
Philosophical and scientific insights
In the documentary, scholars such as renowned physicist Carlo Rovelli and philosopher and translator Jay Garfield share their fascination with Nagarjuna’s Buddhist wisdom and vision of reality. This Indian philosopher stated that the world has no fixed properties and that everything acquires meaning only in relation to something else, for example only in our perception.
Rovelli explains that quantum science also shows that nothing exists in itself. Everything is connected and nothing is truly separate. What we experience always depends on our relationships with others, with nature, and with the world around us. Brain researcher Patrick Kavanagh adds that our brains perceive reality in a very limited way, and are mainly focused on survival. Thus what we see is never an objective and complete representation of reality.
Ethicist Laura Candiotou helps us understand how these ideas can help us become more aware of our relationships and our nature. We are all dependent on each other and the world around us, and perhaps we should think about that more often.
“The Buddhist Vision” is the title under which all programming of the Buddhist movement falls, and broadcasts are provided by KRO-NCRV.
“The Buddhist Vision: Reality Doesn’t Exist,” Sunday, October 13 on KRO-NCRV at 3:25 p.m. on NPO Channel 2.
