Left-symmetric Structures on Weakly Graded Lie Algebras

Karel Dekimpe KYUNGPOOK UNIVERSITY 1998 Kyungpook mathematical journal Vol.38 No.1

In this paper we present a new idea for the construction of left-symmetric structures on nilpotent Lie algebras. Although the techniques are quite simple, we rediscover many of the known left-symmetric structures and we obtain a lot of new examples. The first part of this paper is self-contained and gives elementary proofs and constructions of many well known situations. In the second part of this paper, we indicate how these left-symmetric structures can be used to construct an affine structure on a large class of virtually nilpotent groups.

Buddhism and Peace: Peace in the World or Peace of Mind?

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2005 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.5 No.-

The Last Blade of Grass? Universal Salvation and Buddhism (2)

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2012 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.19 No.-

This paper is an attempt to tease out the meaning and philosophical implications of the Bodhisattva Vow after it escalated in the context of some Mahāyāna teachings from a simple aspiration to become a Buddha in order to show many other beings the path to liberation into a promise to save all sentient beings in the world ‘down to the last blade of grass.’ This amounts to a promise of bringing about universal salvation. The paper investigates whether this promise and the very notion of universal salvation fit at all into the body of mainstream Buddhist doctrines and can be accommodated within Buddhism’s ultimate message of liberation. The paper is not a research paper in the strict sense, it is rather a piece of individual philosophising on the given theme, albeit based on scriptural evidence. It should fit, within the context of the academic discipline known as ‘History of Religions’ or ‘Study of Religions,’ under the label of ‘Philosophy of Religion.’It first investigates briefly the origin of the notion of universal salvation as it appeared in Zoroastrianism and in early European thought, and whether it is relevant to the three monotheistic religions. It then looks at the main traditions of Asia to see if the notion is applicable to them. The core part of the paper is then concerned with the emergence of the idea of liberation for all, ‘down to the last blade of grass,’ as expressed in some formulations of the Bodhisattva Vow in Mahāyāna Buddhism, and whether it is in any way foreshadowed in early Buddhism. Finally I ponder the apparent absurdity of the vow’s claim and, in an attempt to make sense of it, suggest a novel philosophical interpretation which might appear ‘unorthodox’ and contentious to some. But is it?

Are There Two Levels of Truth and Reality?

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2015 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.24 No.-

The paper challenges the widely held view that the Buddha used in his discourses two kinds of language, one expressing ‘conventional truth’ and the other ‘ultimate’ or ‘absolute truth.’ It traces this view to the Theravāda commentaries and points out how its advocates are trying to impute it on the Buddha’s discourses by ‘implication,’ thereby creating the impression that they contain ontological statements, while he on several occasions expressly refused to be drawn into philosophical discourse, always instead pointing out the way to liberation. Later developments of the notion of two truths and realities in Mahāyāna in India and Tibet are discussed, including Nāgarjuna’s and Tsoṅ-ka-pa’s, and it is noted that the question posed by the title of this paper has not yet been decided one way or another by academic scholarship.

Was Richard Wagner a Buddhist?

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2013 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.21 No.-

The article traces Wagner’s preoccupation with the problems of human destiny and his search for a final solution to its dilemma, especially after he became acquainted with early Buddhism and its message of renunciation. His artistic nature stood in the way, though, and drew him back into passionate involvements. He even developed the idea of redemption through the unique beauty of overwhelming love between man and woman, thus, in a way, unwittingly anticipating the Tantric solution without ever learning about it. All this is expressed in his operas by his legendary and mythical librettos and, most eloquently, by his powerful music. The article draws on most of his operas, his autobiography, prose works, his wife Cosima’s diaries and his letters. The circumstances surrounding his long cherished plan of composing a Buddhist opera and the reasons why he failed to accomplish it are also illuminated.

Rationality and Early Buddhist Teachings

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2007 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.8 No.-

Rational features in early Buddhist teachings has had great appeal to the European mind when Buddhism came to be studied by scholars. As a result its presentation to wider readership neglected or ignored its specifically religious elements, both on popular and higher spiritual level as irrational or anti-rational. It concerned particularly the doctrine of rebirth, belief in the existence of beings in invisible worlds and the notion of nirv2!a/nibb2na, yet these tenets represent the very core of the Buddha’s message. The article argues that rational approach to and even analysis of Buddhist teachings is important and even indispensable as illustrated by the conceptual analysis of the states of consciousness in the system of abhidhamma, but maintains that those elements of the teaching which cannot be verified in the western way for all to see should not be rejected as logical impossibility. Rather they should be viewed as supra-rational propositions, made by those who claim to have verified them for themselves by individual experience, and scrutinised as to their logical probability; this should proceed in the context of evaluating Buddhism as a practical philosophy of life and a global world view whose essential component is a spiritual discipline with an outlook of finding the final solution of the riddle of existence.

Death, Rebirth and Personal Identity in Buddhism

Karel Werner 동국대학교 불교학술원 2008 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.10 No.-

This paper analyses three concepts crucial to the Buddhist doctrine: (1) Death which all living beings have to go through and which figures in the canonical texts in a personified form as Māra, the ruler of samsāra, and death as the dissolution of the constituents of personality which even Māra must undergo. However, the actuality of death, even within samsāra, is virtually denied by the doctrine of rebirth and by the passing into the deathless state of nibbāna on liberation. (2) Rebirth is described as a continual process governed by the circular chain of dependent origination which guarantees individual continuation through life from childhood to old age and through the sequence of rebirths. It can be broken only by a free decision and subsequent effort to accomplish liberation. (3) Identity of the individual is preserved by this continuity despite the absence of any unchanging core of the personality, which is unfathomable and continues even into the state of liberation. This was the teaching of the Pudgalavāda school which spelled out the implications of the Pāli discourse known as the ‘Burden bearer’ and which was supplemented in Mahāyāna by the teaching according to which five samsāric khandhas are transformed into the fivefold transcendental wisdom of the accomplished ones.

Articles : The Last Blade of Grass? Universal Salvation and Buddhism

( Karel Werner ) 국제불교문화사상사학회 2012 International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Cultur Vol.18 No.-

This paper is an attempt to tease out the meaning and philosophical implications of the Bodhisattva Vow after it escalated in the context of some Mahayana teachings from a simple aspiration to become a Buddha in order to show many other beings the path to liberation into a promise to save all sentient beings in the world ``down to the last blade of grass.`` This amounts to a promise of bringing about universal salvation. The paper investigates whether this promise and the very notion of universal salvation fit at all into the body of mainstream Buddhist doctrines and can be accommodated within Buddhism`s ultimate message of liberation. The paper is not a research paper in the strict sense, it is rather a piece of individual philosophising on the given theme, albeit based on scriptural evidence. It should fit, within the context of the academic discipline known as ``History of Religions`` or ``Study of Religions,`` under the label of ``Philosophy of Religion.`` It first investigates briefly the origin of the notion of universal salvation as it appeared in Zoroastrianism and in early European thought, and whether it is relevant to the three monotheistic religions. It then looks at the main traditions of Asia to see if the notion is applicable to them. The core part of the paper is then concerned with the emergence of the idea of liberation for all, ``down to the last blade of grass,`` as expressed in some formulations of the Bodhisattva Vow in Mahayana Buddhism, and whether it is in any way foreshadowed in early Buddhism. Finally I ponder the apparent absurdity of the vow`s claim and, in an attempt to make sense of it, suggest a novel philosophical interpretation which might appear ``unorthodox`` and contentious to some. But is it?

Challenging Issues and Future Strategies of Forest Research and Education in Central and Eastern European Countries

( Karel Vancura ) 한국임학회 2005 Forest Science And Technology Vol.1 No.2

Sabotage of Intruder Alarm System Loop

Karel Burda International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2023 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.23 No.7

This article discusses the sabotage of loops of intruder alarm systems. Although loop alarm systems are now gradually being replaced by digital alarm systems, they are still significantly present in practice. This paper describes two experimentally verified techniques for sabotaging balanced loops. The first technique is based on the jump replacement of the balancing resistor by a fake resistor. The second technique is based on inserting a series-parallel combination of two rheostats into the loop. By alternately changing the resistance of these rheostats, a state is reached where the balancing resistor is shorted by the parallel rheostat and replaced by the series rheostat. Sabotage devices for both attacks are technically simple and inexpensive, so they can be made and used by an amateur. Owners of loop alarm systems should become find out about this threat.