Two levels of Truths (1)

I am investigating the differences in meaning of "two Truths" as interpret by different traditions of Buddhism, and by different sub-traditions within the same tradition.

Mahayana - in general...

According to John Snelling's The Buddhist Handbook, page 86 - 87 (BTW, I hope they make the book better in the next reprint or edition as mine is falling into pieces. There seem to be something wrong with the glue.)

Two Levels of Truth

The structure of our everyday language doesn't allow us to describe things as they really are. It carves the world into separate bits and pieces so distorts reality, which isn't in itself fragmented in that way.

Out of this dilemma arose the notion of two levels of truth:

1. Conventional truth - everyday common-sense truth, basically distorted but open to skillful manipulation in order to point to
2. Absolute truth - the way things really are, as buddhas behold with enlightened eyes: empty, beyond thought and description.