Mahavira
599–527 BCE
“Ahimsa above all. Many-sided reality (anekantavada). Liberation through asceticism.”
The four dimensions in the 16-axis model where this thinker scores highest. People in this archetype tend to lean the same way.
- ATAscetic Tendency10 / 10
- UIUniversalist Impulse10 / 10
- POPractical Orientation9 / 10
- TVTragic Vision8 / 10
The six thinkers whose 16-dimensional positions sit closest to this one. Useful as next-reading suggestions.
- BuddhaghosaTHRESHOLD
Visuddhimagga — the path of purification; Theravada commentary master.
- TsongkhapaTHRESHOLD
Synthesis of sutra and tantra. Emptiness combined with rigorous logic. Lamrim — the graduated path.
- Al-GhazaliTHRESHOLD
Reason has limits. Direct experience of the divine through Sufi practice. Doubt led me back to faith.
- John of the CrossTHRESHOLD
The dark night of the soul. Nada y todo — nothing and all. Strip away to find God.
- AsangaTHRESHOLD
Yogācāra — mind-only; consciousness constructs the world it perceives.
- Jay GarfieldTHRESHOLD
Engaging Buddhism — analytic philosophy through Madhyamaka eyes.
Short exercises in the same tradition as Mahavira's thought. Each takes 5–25 minutes.
Three doors lead onward.
- 01 · QUIZThe InheritorFind your archetype — discover whether you'd argue with Mahavira or alongside them.CONTINUE ▶
- 02 · COMPAREMahavira vs BuddhaghosaOn Mull's map Buddhaghosa sits closest. See where they agree and where they part.CONTINUE ▶
- 03 · DAILYToday's SparOne philosopher, one topic, five minutes. A new one drops every day.CONTINUE ▶