I'll address them.kirk5a wrote:Of course, but that is begging the question of whether "critical thinking" as defined by that video is the way to the "purification of the mind" as described by the Buddha, or whether it qualifies as some sort of "active Vipassana." In my opinion, it isn't, and I agree with Ven. Pesala and Ven. Mahāsi Sayadaw on why it isn't. Namely:Cittasanto wrote: but is it wise or not to purify ones mind?Ven. Pesala wrote: In my opinion insight meditation requires the mind to be still — not dull and uncritical, but not constantly doubting and speculating either.I don't see that you've addressed those points so far.Ven. Mahāsi Sayadaw wrote: the Dhamma is described as something beyond logic and intellect.
As a locution (speech act or utterance, or in Buddhist terms, a verbal fabrication), The Reverend Mahāsi Sayadaw quote implies a contradiction (and borders on the tautological). Language requires not only grammatical, syntactical, and semantical logic but also intellectual effort. So the fact that he could even utter the sentence not only shows his dependence on logic and intellect, but it also shows that at least the part of the dhamma he's talking about is not beyond logic and intellect. Otherwise, he couldn't have produced the sentence in a way any one else interested in the dhamma could understand. Furthermore, Reverend Mahāsi Sayadaw is known for his great intellect. He was a a questioner and final editor at the Sixth Buddhist Council and wrote a "book" called Thoughts on the Dharma. How could he have thoughts on the dharma without using logic and intellect?
Now, take your opening sentence. It demonstrates you're not thinking critically but rigidly because you're phrase "the way" implies you think the Buddha taught that there's only ONE way to purify the mind. He didn't.
Furthermore, where in the sutta pitaka do we find the Buddha himself taking the position that the dhamma is beyond logic and intellect? To the contrary, we find him engaging others intellectually and logically all the time.
Finally, while the Reverend Pesala citation has some value, it's still off the mark. Critical thinking does not call for constant doubting and speculating. It calls for the same thing the Buddha called for: honesty about reality. And nothing in critical thinking contradicts a stilling of the mind. The result of critical thinking, especially as expressed in terms of REBT, CBT, MBCT and DBT, is a calmer mind. Improving thinking implies a steady mind.