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thusness

thusness

1 9.9
The true nature of things as they really are
  • noun
  • Formal
translation icon : talidad
  • The concept of thusness emphasizes acceptance of things as they truly are.

Examples

  • In Buddhist philosophy, understanding thusness helps one grasp the reality of existence.

  • This point, a sliver of pure thusness lodged deep within us, is never entangled in or affected by our achievements, plans, repertoire, or supposed knowledge.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Why, for instance, is this thus, and what is the reason for this thusness?

  • From English translations of Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, and other languages, we have added to our vocabulary words like "thusness," "suchness," and "just-so-ness."

    Academic text (1990)
  • Many teachings explore thusness as a way to perceive the deeper truths of reality.

Synonyms

suchness
vsthusness
  • Formal
1 9.9

The basic way something really is without judging it

is used mainly in philosophy and Buddhism rather than as a general description
thing-in-itself
vsthusness
  • Specialized
1 9.9

What something really is apart from how people see it

does not insist on independence from perception and highlights use in Buddhism

Surface Forms

thusness singular
thusnesses plural

Morphology

thusness = thus (opaque) = thus + ness

Although the form is transparently built from 'thus' + '-ness', the philosophical meaning 'the true nature of things' is not directly recoverable from the ordinary adverb 'thus'.

Etymology

The word thusness comes from thus ('in this way') plus the ending -ness that makes a noun, so it literally means 'the state of being thus'. In Buddhist use it often translates the Sanskrit word tathatā ('suchness'), so thusness helps talk about the true nature or 'the way things are'.