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Agnostic Meditations on Buddhist Meditation |
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| Author |
Deleanu, Florin
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| Source |
Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science
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| Volume | v.45 n.3 |
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| Date | 2010.09 |
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| Pages | 605 - 626 |
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| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
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| Publisher Url |
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
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| Location | Oxford, UK [牛津, 英國] |
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| Content type | 期刊論文=Journal Article |
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| Language | 英文=English |
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| Note | Deleanu, Florin is a professor of Buddhist Studies at the International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies, 2–8–9 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112–0003, Japan; e-mail . |
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| Keyword | consciousness-centered meditation; crēdō effect; Early Buddhism; emotion-centered meditation; epistemology of meditation; insight ( vipassanā); Mahāyāna; meditation and happiness; physiology-centered meditation; placebo effect; reflection-centered meditation; subject/object duality; Tantric Buddhism; Theravāda; tranquility ( samatha); visualization-centered meditation |
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| 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN | 05912385 (P); 14679744 (E) |
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| Hits | 313 |
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| Created date | 2014.10.15 |
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| Modified date | 2019.12.05 |
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