The Buddhist Doctrine Of Momentariness: A Surve... May 2026

The "stream" or continuum of causally linked momentary events that gives the appearance of a persistent object.

: Buddhist logicians argued that only momentary things are real because real existence requires the ability to produce an effect. A permanent, unchanging entity would be causally inert and therefore non-existent. Historical Development The Buddhist doctrine of momentariness: A surve...

: We perceive stable objects (like a table or a person) because the series of moments ( santāna ) occurs too fast for ordinary perception to detect the breaks, similar to how a movie film creates the illusion of smooth motion. The "stream" or continuum of causally linked momentary

The ( Kṣaṇikavāda ) is a radical philosophical extension of the core concept of impermanence ( anicca ). While early Buddhist teachings observed that all things eventually decay, the doctrine of momentariness posits that all conditioned phenomena exist for only an infinitesimally brief moment before vanishing and being replaced by a nearly identical successor. Core Tenets of Momentariness Historical Development : We perceive stable objects (like

The theory faced heavy critique from Hindu and Jaina philosophers: Momentariness, Buddhist doctrine of

: Nothing is static; the universe perishes and is "re-created" every instant.

The "no-self" doctrine supported by momentariness, denying an unchanging core in beings. Criticisms from Rival Schools