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Letting be: Thoreau and Cavell on thinking after the bhagavatgita

Author(s): Branka Arsić / Language(s): English Issue: 07/2015

The essay starts from Cavell’s contention that what is sometimes called one’s “cultural identity” is never available to the one whose identity it is supposed to be, but is instead registered by those whose cultural identity it isn’t, and explores in particular Cavell’s propositions regarding how the mind can start revealing to itself what is opaque to it. The paradigmatic example of how the mind undoes itself to better access what is different from it is found in Thoreau’s practices at Walden. Analysis of Cavell’s reading of Thoreau leads me to propose that the work of undoing and leaving oneself – without which there is no substantive transformation – requires a certain joyous mourning over what is left behind.

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The Great Body Has No Shape, the Great Art Is Embodied. Conception of Body in Zhang Huan’s Performance Art

Author(s): Rafał Banka / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

Zhang Huan (b. 1965) can be considered a pioneering contemporary performance artist in China. His position on the Chinese art scene is highly regarded not only from a historical perspective. The use of the artist’s body as a means of expression can serve multiple purposes, which can touch upon, e.g. social or political issues, and seldom re-flects the role of the human body as a vehicle for mediation. Through his artistic activity, the artist tries to discuss this issue based on the Chinese philosophical intuitions of this aspect of human existence. In our paper, we shall try to examine the theoretical founda-tions of the artist’s approaches to performance and illustrate them with selected works.

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Body ‒ Tradition ‒ Expression. Remarks om Japanese Culture

Author(s): Leszek Sosnowski / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

The way the Japanese attribute the meaning to their world and how it becomes under-standable to them seems particularly attractive. This attitude underlies the fundamen-tal difference between the European and Japanese culture. A Westerner seeks to fully disclose the world, unveiling all its secrets. Accordingly, various strategies to achieve this goal have been developed in the Western culture, leading to different results. All scientific (philosophical) and non-scientific (commonsense) stands share a common conviction that truth is a Holy Grail of cognition, and that it is equally unattainable. The Japanese have been shaped by three religions: Shinto, Buddhism and Confucian-ism, and these regulate every aspect of their private as well as social functioning. An internal participant has no difficulties to adjust to the requirements of a particular re-ligion. Likewise, the truth also acquires different meanings depending on the context. For an external observer, however, the overlapping of these diverse domains of life creates a problem, as it results in an original but complicated culture.

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Problematické uzly diskuze o osové době: příklad zoroastrismu

Author(s): Kateřina Soukalová / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 3/2015

The article is discussing problematic aspects of Axial Age. To start with, there is a general description of Axial Age, followed by the illustration of its most important aspects, especially many cultural and spiritual changes which occurred in this period. In particular, one of the most problematic aspects is discussed – the case of zoroastrianism. The question whether zoroastrianism could be considered in the context of Axial Age is discussed. It is not clear at all whether it is new or transformed religion if what we know about Zarathustra’s teaching is really what he said. There is a strong uncertainty about this problematic aspect because of a lack of sources. Nevertheless, we can find significant links to zoroastrianism considered as part of Axial Age and Persia as axial civilization despite the absence of sources. The ethical and moral aspects of zoroastrianic idea are also emphasized because of the rise of new cultural ontology, new spiritual ways, new vision of world; thus, new ways of understanding world which lead to new rules of human behaviour and of social life not only in zoroastrianism but in Axial Age generally. These are the most important aspects of Zarathustra’s doctrine because as a prophet he established morality, decency, and ethic as a core parts of his main ideas which have to be expressed in good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

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A NEW FRAGMENT OF AN UNKNOWN COMMENTARY TO THE YUANJUE JING

Author(s): Zhang Tieshan,Peter Zieme / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2012

The fragment we are publishing here is preserved in the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage (the former China Institute of Cultural Relics). It is the 53rd leaf of an Uigur manuscript that contains the beginning of an unknown commentary to the Yuanjue jing. Other leaves of the same manuscript of the Hedin Collection in Stockholm were studied by K. Kudara in 1992.

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SLEEP WELL! SLEEPING PRACTICES IN BUDDHIST DISCIPLINARY RULES

Author(s): Ann Heirman / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2012

The present paper gives a detailed analysis of the guidelines on sleeping practices as stipulated in Buddhist monastic disciplinary texts and in Chinese manuals. It shows how sleep is perceived in normative texts, both in India and in China, and how monastics should deal with their daily need for sleep. The analysis reveals a striking contrast between sleep as a relatively innocent time when one’s actions incur no guilt, and sleep as a potentially harmful time of the day, given its assocation with disrespect, inactivity and sexual practices, and given the fact that during one’s sleep one might unwillingly display one’s true nature, which for some monastics appears to be quite detrimental.

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FALSE FRIENDS IN THE FANFANYU

Author(s): Gudrun Pinte / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2012

In the present article, a remarkable phenomenon is brought to the attention of those interested in early Chinese translations of Buddhist texts: false friends in the Fanfanyu (T54n2130). Baochang’s Sanskrit–Chinese lexicon that was compiled as early as 517 AD reveals some curious examples of faux amis. In the present contribution, this case will be illustrated with references from the Shanjian lü piposha (T24n1462), a 5th century Chinese translation of the Samantapāsādikā, Buddhaghosa’s commentary on the Pāli Vinaya. The fact that Baochang did not realise that this text was not translated from Sanskrit, inadvertently gave rise to some interesting jeux de mots.

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Buddhist philosophy for the treatment of problem gambling

Author(s): Edo Shonin,William Van Gordon,Mark D. Griffiths / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2013

In the last five years, scientific interest into the potential applications of Buddhist-derived interventions (BDIs) for the treatment of problem gambling has been growing. This paper reviews current directions, proposes conceptual applications, and discusses integration issues relating to the utilisation of BDIs as problem gambling treatments. Method: A literature search and evaluation of the empirical literature for BDIs as problem gambling treatments was undertaken. Results: To date, research has been limited to cross-sectional studies and clinical case studies and findings indicate that Buddhist-derived mindfulness practices have the potential to play an important role in ameliorating problem gambling symptomatology. As an adjunct to mindfulness, other Buddhist-derived practices are also of interest including: (i) insight meditation techniques (e.g., meditation on ‘emptiness’) to overcome avoidance and dissociation strategies, (ii) ‘antidotes’ (e.g., patience, impermanence, etc.) to attenuate impulsivity and salience-related issues, (iii) loving-kindness and compassion meditation to foster positive thinking and reduce conflict, and (iv) ‘middle-way’ principles and ‘bliss-substitution’ to reduce relapse and temper withdrawal symptoms. In addition to an absence of controlled treatment studies, the successful operationalisation of BDIs as effective treatments for problem gambling may be impeded by issues such as a deficiency of suitably experienced BDI clinicians, and the poor provision by service providers of both BDIs and dedicated gambling interventions. Conclusions: Preliminary findings for BDIs as problem gambling treatments are promising, however, further research is required.

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Blurred boundaries: Francis Bacon’s portraits

Author(s): Timea Andrea Lelik / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2019

In his oeuvre Francis Bacon hints at the fact that portraiture sacrifices the subject for the sake of representation. For this reason, portraiture as a genre needs to re-determine the conditions that originally shaped it. Through an analysis of the manner in which Bacon depicts his subjects I will argue that his portraits blur the boundaries between object and subject, portrait and viewer, in order to remodel conventional notions of portraiture. Through Gilles Deleuze’s theory on Francis Bacon, I will reinterpret Bacon’s works through the prism of Buddhism, arguing that understanding the works through Buddhist practices opens the possibility of a complete transformation of preexisting concepts which traditionally shaped portrait making.

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СВЕЩЕНАТА ПЛАНИНА ТАЙШАН В ПРОФАННОТО ПРОСТРАНСТВО НА СЪВРЕМЕННАТА КУЛТУРНА ИНДУСТРИЯ НА КНР

Author(s): Evelina HEIN / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2019

The paper seeks to address some questions connected to the conflict between the very nature of sacred places like mount Taishan in China and the contemporary phenomenon of culture industry which has its intrinsic value in exploitation of the national history and culture with the purpose of ensuring economical profit for the state. The author traces the roots and the historical development of the worship of mount Taishan into an emblematic universal symbol of Chineseness and points to possible problematic connection between this symbol and the clear profit-making purpose of one concrete project of the culture industry in PRC – the “Culture Industry Park of Mount Taishan”, whose realization started in 2009. As a meaningful focus of the whole project the landscape mega-spectacle “Chinese Taishan: The Great Sacrifice to Heaven and Earth” is examined through its official media covering and the feedback of the spectators. The paper finds that the promoted “harmony” between the history of the sacred mount Taishan and the contemporary mundane use of it as a cultural resource contains potential dramatical developments.

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Amerykańska metafizyka rasy

Author(s): Mieczysław Jagłowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 61/2023

In the 1990s, a debate about the race began in the United States, in which many philosophers are involved. In philosophy, this debate has become known as the metaphysics of race. The aim of this article is to outline positions that have formed in the area of the metaphysics of race as a separate, mainly American, current of philosophical thought – realism (naturalistic and constructivist) and anti-realism – and to indicate the most important arguments invoked by their most outstanding proponents to justify their metaphysical positions, as well as the counter-arguments of their opponents. The article also discusses the normative aspect of this dispute, very important from the moral and social point of view, listing two main positions on this level: eliminativism and conservatism regarding the presence of racial terms and concepts in public discourses. In the final parts of the article, the relations between metaphysical positions and normative directives formulated by the participants of the debate are considered, and critical arguments concerning the philosophical value and social importance of this trend of thinking are presented.

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The Emancipation of Egypt: A Quest for Modernity under Islamic and Egyptian Values

Author(s): Salma Al Refaei / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The nineteenth and the twentieth centuries were pivotal in Muslim Egypt’s history as they shaped and influenced not only Egyptian society, but also the Muslim community at large. If the West went through various modernizing movements and experienced a fast advancement, then the East in general and Egypt in particular were marked by the colonial rule, the Orientalist discourse and an identity crisis that threatened their religion. In this context, Islamic Modernism came as a response to the threat posed by the modern, civilized West and it focused towards proving that Islam and modernity could be reconciled. In this sense, my paper aims to show that the contributions of Muhammad ‘Abduh and Gamal Abdel Nasser are notable – the formers tried to reshape Egyptian identity in modern terms, while the latter focused on Egypt’s national identity and the modernization process in the Postcolonial era.

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Porównanie symboliki wierzby i lilii w chińskiej i polskiej kulturze na tle teorii językowego obrazu świata

Author(s): Jiahao Zou / Language(s): Polish Issue: 23/2023

The article introduces the symbolism of the willow and the lily, which have played an important role in the lives of Chinese and Poles over many years. The research issue of this article is the question: What are the differences and similarities in terms of willow and lily symbolism in Chinese and Polish culture? The article is based on an analysis of literature. It aims to indicate the symbolism of the willow and the lily and to find the roots of their differences and similarities in Chinese and Polish cultures. The first part of the article is devoted to the theory of a linguistic worldview, which is the theoretical basis of the research. The second part of the article focuses on the most important and widespread symbolisms of the willow. The third part presents the most important connotations of the lily in both cultures. I It turns out that there are many similar symbolisms of the willow in Chinese and Polish culture, such as homesickness and vitality, etc. Nevertheless, the willow is an attribute of the noble hermit in Chinese culture, while in Polish culture it symbolizes susceptibility because of its pliancy. There are also many analogies in the associations of the lily in Polish and Chinese cultures, such as purity and holiness. Contrary to appearances, in the two civilizations the differences in lily symbolism are not readily apparent

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The Merchants of Heavenly Grace: On Academic Journals and Cultural Difference

Author(s): John T. Giordano / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The increasing standardization, specialization and monetarization of academic publishing is designed to foster quality in research and expression. But these tendencies also pose serious challenges to the expression of cultural difference, particularly with regard to philosophy and religious studies. Scholars from various cultural backgrounds outside of mainstream universities often find themselves marginalized when the quality of their work is judged through the metrics of mainstream academic publishing. Smaller journals which give a forum to local research are gradually disappearing or becoming irrelevant. The corporate control of publishing limits the access and distribution of information making it difficult for smaller regional universities to access and conduct research. But these challenges to the expression of cultural difference also reflect the deeper tendencies of the information age. To approach this problem, we need to consider the conflict between culture and spirit on the one hand, with the flows of information and capital on the other. I will introduce this problem through an idea of hermeneutics presented by George McLean. I will then discuss the approaches to this problem by such writers as Michel Serres, Jean Francois Lyotard, Giorgio Agamben and Jacques Derrida. I will show that these latter writers devise strategies to reach something outside of the cybernetic flows of information in the media age, but that their solutions are incomplete because they rely on intellectual concepts of redemption and ignore the concrete practices of spiritual redemption. The issue that cross-cultural journals must consider is how to emphasize something beyond the merely intellectual; how to amplify practice within its expression. I will address this issue in the spirit of a poem by Emily Dickinson entitled “Publication – is the Auction” which supplies the title of this essay. MEΘEXIS Journal of Research in Values and Spirituality, Vol. III, No. 2 (2023): 84-101, ISSN 2821-6377

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A Philosophical Exploration of Spiritual Values and their Contribution to Shaping Humanity

Author(s): Amir Khan Ahmed / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The study undertakes a philosophical inquiry into the profound influence of spiritual values on the trajectory of human civilization. Throughout history, diverse societies have developed intricate belief systems and spiritual frameworks that serve as the bedrock for their moral, ethical, and existential principles. These spiritual values, transcending religious confines, manifest in various cultural, philosophical, and ethical traditions. The study delves into the core essence of spirituality, probing its origins, and its pivotal role in human development. It examines how spiritual values have guided and molded human behavior, ethics, and social structures, simultaneously fostering unity and division within societies. Drawing from a rich philosophical tapestry, this study investigates how spiritual values have informed ethical philosophies, moral paradigms, and the pursuit of the greater good. It explores ethical quandaries and conflicts arising from diverse interpretations of these values, while also emphasizing their potential to ignite compassion, empathy, and societal transformation. It assesses the contemporary relevance of spiritual values in an increasingly secular world, where the boundaries between spirituality, ethics, and secular humanism blur. The study scrutinizes how modern philosophy and science intersect with spiritual values, contributing to a broader comprehension of human consciousness, purpose, and interconnectedness. Ultimately, the study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the significance of spiritual values in human existence and their enduring influence on our collective journey. By exploring the intersections of philosophy, spirituality, and humanity, it illuminates the profound ways in which spiritual values continue to shape and guide our shared destiny.

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Guqin: The Path of Music

Author(s): Bin Zhang / Language(s): English Issue: 115/2023

In Chinese culture prevails understanding that every thing and phenomena in the universe follow their own Dao (Cosmic Path). The article discusses how Chinese literati generation after generation continuously reinterpreted and reinforced the idea of muical instrument guqin as Dao Path, making it a significant symbolic representation of Chinese culture. The Dao of guqin was gradually linked with a cluster of other cultural and philosophical ideas – the “Path of Music”, the “Path of Confucianism”, the “Path of the Sage”, the “Path of the Universe” and other “Paths”. Thus, a special instrument was transformed beyond its mere musical function, and was connected with ineffable Dao. The article concludes that consequently Dao can be interpreted as Dao of national culture, where important cultural contributors not only inherit from cultural tradition, but also continuously reconstruct and give life to the core ideas and values - Dao of the nation.

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„Песента на Желанието (Кама)“: Ако срещнеш Кама, не го убивай

Author(s): Milena Bratoeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

The present article examines two narratives from the epic Mahābhārata (MBh), focused on the topic of desire (kāma) and the relationship erotic – ascetic (kāma – tapas). The first one is about the horned ascetic Ṛṣyaśṛṅga (MBh, 3); the second – about the teaching of God Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva to the king Yudhiṣṭhira, culminating in the "Song of Kāma" (MBh, 14). Both narratives are interpreted in the perspective of Hindu ethics, whose foundation is dharma, a key concept of Hinduism. The epics propagate an ideal dharmic code of conduct, based on the so-called four life goals – puruṣārtha. One of these four life goals is kāma – the realm of desires, emotions and sensual pleasures.

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ON MIGRATION, HIĞRA, IN AL-FĀRĀBĪ’S MORAL PHILOSOPHY

Author(s): Grete Tartler Tabarasi,Grete Tartler / Language(s): English,Arabic Issue: 15/2015

Contemporary debates on the increasing role of migration are seldom seeing this as a question of ethics and a religious duty. My article intents to point out the religious motivation of migration, as mentioned inal-Fārābī‟s Fuṣūl al-madanī (The Aphorisms of the Stateman). The Medieval political philosopher is using theword hiğra in its classical meaning (from the times of the Prophet), connecting it with war and the qualities ofthe city‟s chief (king, philosopher and warrior). It is a virtuous man‟s duty to leave a corrupt city for a virtuousone, otherwise he will feel like a “stranger in this world” (ġarīb fī l-dunyā); migration being thus seen also in terms of methaphysical survival.

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KREATIVNA INDIFERENTNOST I DIFERENCIJACIJA NA POLOVE U GEŠTALT PSIHOTERAPIJI

Author(s): Milica Lazović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 11/2024

The topic of the following paper is the influence of the ideas about creative indifference and polar differentiation of the German-Jewish philosopher Salomo Friedlaender on Fritz Perls and Gestalt psychotherapy. The founder of the gestalt psychotherapy was attracted to the dialogic nature of Friedlander’s ideas and incorporated them into the foundations of his theory and practice. The influence is evident in Perls’s understanding of being centered in the here and now, figure and background, then in the understanding of the field, organismic self-regulation, but also holism as a core concept of gestalt, which is contained in the very name of the method. Perls’s ideas about the self and the middle mode also arise from the fruitful contact of the two thinkers. With all this in mind, in addition to the three philosophical pillars on which Gestalt psychotherapy rests, namely phenomenology, existentialism and Eastern philosophy, Friedlander’s philosophical system, despite the fact that its influence has long been unrecognized in its full extent, could be considered as fourth pillar of the Gestalt.

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The Book as a Cultural Artifact in Brazilian Spiritism

Author(s): André Bueno / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

Spiritism is a religious doctrine of Christian spiritualism that emerged in the 19th century in France, but which achieved great expansion and consolidation in Brazil, becoming one of the main religious expressions in the country. Brazilian Spiritism places great emphasis on the role of study as a form of knowledge and development of the doctrine, which makes the Spiritist book an important artifact in the construction of a Spiritist cultural pedagogy. In our brief text, we will see some of the particular characteristics that construct the Spiritist book as a cultural artifact, and its functions in the continuous transformation of the Brazilian Spiritist movement.

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