Agnostic Meditations on Buddhist Meditation
Abstract. I first attempt a taxonomy of meditation in traditional Indian Buddhism. Based on the main psychological or somatic function at which the meditative effort is directed, the following classes can be distinguished: (1) emotion-centered meditation (coinciding with the traditional samatha appr...
1. VerfasserIn: | |
---|---|
Medienart: | Elektronisch Aufsatz |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Veröffentlicht: |
Wiley-Blackwell
2010
|
In: |
Zygon
Jahr: 2010, Band: 45, Heft: 3, Seiten: 605-626 |
weitere Schlagwörter: | B
subject/object duality
B emotion-centered meditation B Mahāyāna B epistemology of meditation B insight (vipassanā) B meditation and happiness B consciousness-centered meditation B Placebo effect B Early Buddhism B visualization-centered meditation B Tantric Buddhism B Theravāda B physiology-centered meditation B tranquility (samatha) B crēdō effect B Buddhist Meditation B reflection-centered meditation |
Online Zugang: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Parallele Ausgabe: | Nicht-Elektronisch
|
Zusammenfassung: | Abstract. I first attempt a taxonomy of meditation in traditional Indian Buddhism. Based on the main psychological or somatic function at which the meditative effort is directed, the following classes can be distinguished: (1) emotion-centered meditation (coinciding with the traditional samatha approach); (2) consciousness-centered meditation (with two subclasses: consciousness reduction/elimination and ideation obliteration); (3) reflection-centered meditation (with two subtypes: morality-directed reflection and reality-directed observation, the latter corresponding to the vipassanā method); (4) visualization-centered meditation; and (5) physiology-centered meditation. In the second part of the essay I tackle the problem of the epistemic validity and happiness-engendering value of Buddhist meditation. In my highly conjectural view, the claim that meditation represents an infallible tool for realizing the (Supreme) Truth as well as a universally valid method for attaining the highest forms of happiness is largely based on the crēdō effect, that is, a placebolike process. I do not deny that meditation may have some positive effects on mental and physical health or that its practice may bring changes to the mind. Meditation may be a valuable alternative approach in life and clinical treatment, but it is far from being a must or a panacea. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1467-9744 |
Enthält: | Enthalten in: Zygon
|
Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2010.01117.x |