APOPHATIC THEOLOGY AND BUDDHISM

Apophatic Theology, also termed Negative Theology, describes what something is not, as opposed to Cataphatic Theology, or Positive Theology, which states what something is.  Buddhism is apophatic, as is Taoism when it states that he who says he knows the Tao does not, and that the Tao that can be named is not the true Tao.

The apophatic methodology is common in the earliest Buddhist doctrines, such as the Nikayas. They say that form, in the absolute sense, does not exist, nor do feelings, perceptions, experiences, and empirical consciousness.

And there is no absolute self or absolute soul (annata), which is to say that there is no permanent underlying substance that can be called an absolute self or an absolute soul.  Rather is the individual a compound of factors called skandhas, that are loosely held together, are changing constantly, and that at death will fall apart and vanish.

The concept of the Void, sunyata, is another illustration of the apophatic view in Buddhism.  Sunyata is said to be beyond the conception of presence and absence, and beyond categorical thought.  Again, all things are empty of intrinsic existence and nature.