This is a modern interpretation and analysis of the original teachings of the Buddha, which leads to the conclusion that Buddhism started as a philosophical school of life, like the antique Stoics, Sceptics, etc. Brahmanic influences led to religious dogmas like karma and reincarnation. The Buddhist view on reality is however surprisingly modern and on a par with the philosophical method of phenomenology. By this method we can begin to understand Buddhism like the Buddha really meant it.

Phenomenal Emptiness: In Search for a Phenomenological Buddhism, Erik Hoogcarspel, Independently published, Paperback, 202 pages, $20.00

Erik Hoogcarspel (1946-) teaches philosophy at the Internationale School voor Wijsbegeerte in Leusden (Netherlands). He has studied philosophy and buddhism at the universities of Groningen and Leiden (Netherlands). He published a translation of the Sanskrit Buddhist text Mulamadhamakakarikah and philosophical books and articles in Dutch. He is an experienced meditator.

CONTENTS: Phenomenal Emptiness
1	Introduction	4
2	History	9
	The Buddha	9
	Awakening	11
3	The inheritance of the Buddha	18
	The Three Jewels	18
	The three baskets	19
	The Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta	22
	The middle way	24
	Dissatisfaction	26
	What is obvious for an Indian priest	30
	Repeating and rethinking	34
	The influence of existing metaphysical dogmas	39
4	Karma	43
	Origin and meaning	43
	Karma according to the Buddha	45
	Karma in classical Buddhism	48
	Karma and ethics	59
	Different kinds of ethics	59
	Beyond good and evil	63
	The twelve chains	69
	Rebirth	81
	Confusing things	87
5	Buddhism and philosophy	93
	Antique philosophy	93
	Modernity	100
	Historicism	104
	World and knowledge	107
6	Phenomenology	111
	The Buddha and the phenomenon	111
	Psychologism, reduction	116
	The thing: transcendence and immanence	118
	Phenomenology of the three characteristics	122
	Intentionality, the world	125
	Epoche, eidetical reduction	128
	Time	130
	The self	133
	The other	135
	Doubting the subject	143
	Nothing but phenomena	146
	The meaning of life	158
7	Conclusion	165
8	Appendix	171
	Literature	186
	Index of persons	190
	Index of subjects	191