Compatibility of Buddha and Krishnamurti

[Kim O'Hara]

Greetings Kim,

Kierkegaard ... How does de Silva relate him to the other two?

Yeah, that's roughly about where I'm getting up to in the book. Page 82, which is near the end of the chapter I just finished, includes...

A new approach to existentialist philosophy has been presented in the discussion that follows this chapter. The discussion revolves round a cluster of problems and issues that cut across the philosophies of different existentialist thinkers. These problems have been subjected to a cross-disciplinary analysis and in doing this we have placed the philosophy of existentialism against the background of psycho-analysis and the wisdom of the Buddha.

A small note - whilst the full "Explorers Of Inner Space" does not appear to be online, Part II of the book "Tangles and Webs: Comparative Studies in Existentialism" which I've just come to, appears to be online here... http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/padmas.htm although it "timed out" whilst I tried loading it, so can't confirm it's an active link.

Metta,
Retro.

Hi, Retro,
Did you get as far as Kierkegaard?
Anything to report?


Kim

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Kim,

I'll have a flick through the book this evening and see if I can find an eloquent summary contained within the author's own words. Until then the gist of the comparative analysis was that...

Kierkegaard had developed a 3-stage life model, which from memory, considered "the aesthete", "the ethical/moral" (not sure exactly what this one was called, from memory) and "the religious". Kierkegaard's analysis of the aesthete mirrors the Buddha's in regards to the dissatisfactory nature of a life based on sensual pursuits (and boredom in their absence). The second stage, corresponded roughly with the married lay Buddhist, following precepts and upholding a level of morality and such. For the final stage though, the correlation seems to fall apart due to Kierkegaard's negativity, religious hang-ups and theistic assumptions (including the inability to achieve one's own salvation) underpinning his analysis. With that in mind, Kierkegaard's existential approach to "the aesthete" may contribute to a better understanding of the depth and breadth of dukkha (complementing the Buddha's own existensive list) and "the ethical/moral" may contribute to an appreciation of the benefits of sila and sense restraint in modern society.

Metta,
Retro.