Summarize two readings and talk about your own opinions about some terms, such as transcendence immanence samsara sense- making nirvana and cosmological dualism.
The essay “A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution, and Ethics in the Modern World” by David R. Loy presents the need engagement and new vision within the context of modernity for the Buddhist religion. In addressing this need, the author makes a variety of arguments regarding the underlying principles of philosophy and Buddhist thought. The underlying nature of enlightenment and the capacity for modern man to reach it as well as the meaning of its pursuit are important considerations that the author discusses. Loy presents the idea of Buddhism through the context of psychological and spiritual healing within the modern world. These principles as well as the very notion of humanity and its existence within the cosmos are all explored within the text. Not only does Loy argue for the need for the pursuit of these philosophic questions but also frames them within the values of modern society and the need for their pursuit even as the social systems and political structures begin to overshadow the pursuit of spiritual well-being. This is because “the world as normally experienced is a psychological and social construction that can be deconstructed and reconstructed” (Loy 10). The relationship between spiritual pursuit through Buddhist contemplation and modern society are juxtaposed in order to better understand how they interact and how these interactions can be used in order to live a better life. Compatibility between faith and modernity are, for Loy, essential modes of thought that allow a person to attain a certain level of peace in their lives and to deal with the complex and often difficult nature of modern life. In assessing these values, the author presents the need to better understand Buddhism in the modern context and to develop themselves in a more philosophic way. These principles demonstrate the fundamental nature of Buddhist intellectual pursuits and how they can work to address the overwhelming issues of human yearning including the need to better understand the place of humanity within the larger context of the universe as a whole. Answering these questions can lead to not only personal intellectual enlightenment but also spiritual enlightenment as well.
Terms in this text seem to indicate the principles of spirituality in relation to concepts of enlightenment that have been adopted within the modern world. The idea of transcendence, for instance, becomes much more important in the modern context, in which it is much more difficult to live outside the bounds of modern society. The principles of enlightenment for this reason become even more important as the world continues to move away from its capacity to promote human spiritual endeavors in favor of more socially just ideologies of secularism which address the need for sovereignty in the world. These characteristics of personal dignity are directly related to the modern context of religious representation. As society moves away from being directly involved in religious significance it becomes important for the individual to cultivate their own sense of spiritual enlightenment. Nirvana can be reached by understanding this sense of cosmological-dualism in which the individual must compete between tenuous identities of personal spirituality and social professionalism in order to adapt to rapidly changing social conditions. The presentation of Buddhist enlightenment in relation to the modern identity is an important reality that can be considered due to the overwhelming need for personal spiritual development. This context represents the explicit need to condition the personal expectations of spiritual growth within the cosmological realities of the modern world. These principles become important when addressed through such a lens. In continuing personal growth and development through exercising of personal autonomy the true strength of modern modern independence and freedom can be achieved. The ability to make one’s own decisions regarding spiritual action can only serve to promote the spiritual character of those who pursue such action. The essay “Making Sense of Sense-Making: Reflections on Enactive and Extended Mind Theories” by Evan Thompson and Mog Stapleton presents an exploration of some of the primary differences between approaches to cognitive science and better understanding the psychology of the individual in relation to the extended mind thesis. The notions of autonomy and sense-making are important terms within the study and the principles of personal will and the capacity of the human personality are addressed. These aspects of cognitive action can be determined through the various considerations that are presented within the text. This includes the principles of externalism and internalism, which form a basic foundation for the nature of the study. Furthermore, the correlation between mental cognition and psychological emotional responses were also addressed and the relationship between these principles was analyzed. The way in which these elements interact with the body on a biological level was also questioned within the research. “An autonomous system is a system composed of processes that generate and sustain that system as a unity and thereby also define an environment for the system” (Thompson and Stapleton 24). Finally, in addressing the incorporation of these principles as well as the relative tendency to extend these principles within the mind-body interface were important questions that the authors discussed. The principles of design that were incorporated into these mechanisms can help to promote the requirements for action or inaction that can be related to a more comprehensive understanding. These variations present the need to recognize the fulfillment of a more complex obligation towards personal satisfaction. The principles of contention that are adopted can be expressed through the notions of autonomy and sense-making as well as the relationship that these concepts have with those such as emotion, embodiment, and incorporation.
The principles associated to cognitive and emotional development can be addressed through the consideration of the scientific evidence that is explored in the text. The challenge in relation to understanding these ideas is the overwhelming need to characterize the development of the personal mechanisms that are discussed within the context of a greater system. The value that can be associated with the understanding of emotional or psychological processes are important in relation to whether they can be said to be externalized or internalized. In associating outward or inward processes with specific concepts or ideas the individual begins to establish an emotive grasp on the world around them. These characteristics present a way to better understand not only what they learn but how they learn as well. The capacity for them to interact and deal with a variety of complex circumstances can also be assessed as well as the importance of challenging the promotion of a more comprehensive system for understanding these interactions. The variety of conditions upon which development can be positioned presents the expectations of these realities when they are addressed by the consistency of a more comprehensive approach. The idea of cognition and emotion and how these elements interact with one another can help to present a better focus for the framing of these cognitive processes. In order to establish a stronger incentive for positive development, these processes should be better understood. The way in which these elements interact with the body itself can also be considered in relation to the establishment of personal reflection on these particular concepts. In doing so, development can be better resolved through the incorporation of specific values, or, in considering the principles discussed in the text, the extension of those values rather than their wholesale adoption. These principles seem to indicate the need to reflect on the nature of personal development and the emotive responses that people could potentially have to a variety of situations. The text presents the need to address these elements to a greater degree.
Works Cited
Loy, David R. A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution, and Ethics in the Modern World.
Wisdom Publications: Boston. 2015. Print.
Thompson, Evan and Stapleton, Mog. Making Sense of Sense-Making: Reflections on Enactive and
Extended Mind Theories. Topoi. 28:23-30. 2009 Print.
