Is the foundation of Buddhism a practical philosophy and psychotherapy? Critically discuss the issues and present your argument/analysis.
BUDDHISM: A HISTORYTopic:Is the foundation of Buddhism based on myth, fanatical or blind faith? Is the foundation of Buddhism a practical philosophy and psychotherapy? Critically discuss the issues and present your argument/analysis.------------------------------------------------------------------------The foundation of Buddhism is rooted in rational intellectual comprehension through the cultivation of wisdom. It encourages faith with profound understanding authenticated by listening, by seeing and deepened by insightful thought in order to gain an understanding. Buddhism is not founded on myth, fanatical or blind faith but it is developed through self contemplation and an experience of insight, thereby kept from illusion. It emphasizes the practical intention of putting Buddha's teachings to work, instead of submissively accepting them as revealed truth. Buddhism is a practical philosophy in that it has specific methods of application on various sets of philosophical principles. It is founded on a psychotherapy concerned with suffering, the awareness of suffering and the means of relief and release from it to find peace and happiness. Practices in Buddhism include having faith in the Buddha and Bodhisattvas because of their virtues, wisdom, and understanding the philosophical teachings of the Buddha Dharma. Faith in Buddhism is not hostile towards wisdom but encourages it with insightful understanding. Firstly, one needs to establish faith without prejudice and is required to develop understanding of the legitimate foundation for faith and by such sensible ways to acknowledge its authenticity and validity. The better and deeper the understanding of the valid grounds for faith, the stronger the faith will take place. The valid grounds for faith are learnt and validated by listening, by seeing and deepened by perceptive and insightful
thought. In Buddhism, one is required to cultivate the mind. Faith in Buddhism is developed through deliberation, analysis and examination so that the distinctiveness of truthfulness and righteousness can be understood and exposed. Faith is rooted in rational intellectual comprehension, so that as it is strengthened and sharpened by the assessment of the intellect, and is further confirmed by the direct insight of wisdom. This wisdom begins with self-contemplation and an experience of insight. Truth cannot simply be derived from observation of the external world, but it requires us to understand ourselves and to grasp our inner nature. Once our ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
thought. In Buddhism, one is required to cultivate the mind. Faith in Buddhism is developed through deliberation, analysis and examination so that the distinctiveness of truthfulness and righteousness can be understood and exposed. Faith is rooted in rational intellectual comprehension, so that as it is strengthened and sharpened by the assessment of the intellect, and is further confirmed by the direct insight of wisdom. This wisdom begins with self-contemplation and an experience of insight. Truth cannot simply be derived from observation of the external world, but it requires us to understand ourselves and to grasp our inner nature. Once our levels of understanding of the Buddha Dharma are further developed, faith becomes more intense. This is consistent with Buddhism’s teachings in acquiring wisdom through hearing, thinking and understanding. If faith is not developed through open thinking and analysis then one is simply following what others believe. Traditionally Buddhism considers understanding through thinking as greater to that which has been heard from someone else. Blind faith fueled by enthusiasm and zeal can result to disapproval and criticism of insight and perception hence making it fanatical. However an unprejudiced and practical system does not include confounding or esoteric principle. With no blind faith there cannot be any force or persecution or fanaticism. Buddhism accentuates the rational quest of truth and advocates reason over blind faith, strongly discouraging blind faith and fanaticism. For this reason we are required to understand the Buddhist perspective of faith which develops over several stages of wisdom. Faith is characterized by feelings of high opinion and of inspiration by an ideal. Faith without a logical and intellectual grasp and discrimination cannot be considered as a rational faith. Buddhism steers clear of the nastiness of that religious fanaticism which promotes faith devoid of deeper understanding and detached from wisdom. Buddha intended his teachings to be personal advice to his students, and instructed his students to critically judge his words before accepting them. Buddhism emphasizes the practical intention of putting Buddha's teachings to work, instead of passively accepting them as revealed truth. It challenges every individual to do his own religious seeking. While having faith in the teaching of Buddha, one can be learning the reality of such insightful teachings as dependent origination and impermanence while using the application of his teaching in our day to day lives. Buddhism has employed philosophy as a means of understanding reality. It places special emphasis on practice and realization. The Buddha sought the answer to human suffering and anguish and discovered we could diminish our misery accepting that what has been created is impermanent and by reducing our desire for things to be different. By accepting that no permanent bliss or happiness is to be found in what is impermanent and by eliminating craving, envy and greed we can find the path to serenity. The core of the Buddhist philosophy are the four Noble Truths; suffering, its cause, its cure and the way leading to the cessation of suffering; the Noble eightfold way. The first three of the four Noble Truths represent the philosophy of Buddhism while the fourth one represents the ethics of Buddhism, based on that philosophy. Once an individual fully comprehends the Four Noble Truths, by knowing or seeing them through the practice of concentrative meditation he can put them in practice by training his mind. The Buddha Dharma is founded on facts which can be tested by each individual and verified by experience, making Buddhism rational and intensely practical. Buddhism is a practical philosophy in that it is a way of life based on the tainting of the mind. Its goal is to demonstrate the way to complete liberation from anguish by the achievement of the Unconditioned, a position beyond the scope of the normal untrained mind. We are not destined to be always miserable or troubled by the weight of accumulated tendencies, but through our own attempts we can shed off all these tendencies and reach a state of absolute freedom. This insight and philosophy is founded on extreme common sense and respectable ethics. It makes human beings aware of their ability to change and transform the course of their unhappiness rather than passively accepting it. Buddhism employs psychotherapy for the release from sufferings of the mind. Psychotherapy is a practical way of dealing with painful emotions, painful thoughts and painful experiences. Buddhism views suffering as having been caused by the qualities of the mind which shape our perceptions and reactions to actions. It is not caused by external traumas but by the way each individual responds to trauma. These responses are a result of mental factors such as uncertainties, fears and needs which may be denied and suppressed. Buddha taught a path leading to liberation with procedures that aid one towards Awakening. The Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones, the ethic of the Fourth Noble Truth, falls into three divisions; wisdom, ethics and meditation. Buddhism holds the view that meditation is essential on the path to enlightenment due to its power to purify the mind from its unenlightened state. Buddhism meditation techniques of insight, mindfulness and concentration will assist to identify different thought processes, emotions and actions, with the ultimate aim that one will grasp that anguish is the result of attachment to temporary aspects of all human experience. Its aim is to help the sufferer to develop awareness, acceptance, and realization of painful emotions. The realization of these insights will direct to the release from painful symptoms of denial and repression. The basic theory of relaxing mental exercise is that physical relaxation is essential to mental relaxation. This way one can learn to use physical relaxation to promote tranquility and ease in mind. This practice can be called on when one is faced with a tense, angry, stressful or painful event when most likely to forget that expecting things to be different will lead to sadness and grief. Buddhist psychotherapy can elicit positive psychological responses and can be utilized by individuals in their own environment, providing a continuous source of self therapy. Buddhism is based on faith by direct validation by individuals. It attempts to teach individuals to accept and deal with the impermanence and changes in life. It employs a practical philosophy to seek awareness and liberation of the mind from suffering and pain. Through meditation, insight and mindfulness it purifies the mind and teaches a way to find tranquil ness and happiness. BIBLIOGRAPHYSECONDARY SOURCES:Skilton, Andrew, A Concise History of Buddhism Whitehorse Publications,1994.Smith, Huston, The World's Religions, revised & updated edition of The Religions of Man, San Francisco, Harper Publications, 1961.Thapar, Romila A History of India, vol 1, London, Penguin Books, 1990.‘Indian Philosopher & Spiritual Leader ’(B.C. 483-563)‘Fundamental Buddhism Explained Summary’‘Buddhism in a Nutshell’‘Teachings in Chinese Buddhism’< http://www.buddhanet.net/bp2_f5.htm>accessed 20 March 2008. 'The Search for Happiness' by Ron Leifer, M.D.'A Serene Life' by Rob Aalders 'Religions of Fear and Hate' Memes and Malevolent Mind Viruses'Buddhist Meditation and Psychotherapy' Ay’va Roberts