Sharing Wisdom by Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Author:Alon Goshen-Gottstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Lexington Books, a division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2012-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Specific Wisdoms

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Buddhism at its best is able to differentiate between the means of realizing wisdom and wisdom itself, the raft and the other shore, as expressed in the Simile of the Raft. In this way, it is able to see itself as a path, a means of accessing wisdom, not as identical with that wisdom or as having exclusive possession of it. Of course, not all Buddhists think this way, but it is a teaching of the Buddha nonetheless. This view opens the door to a self-understanding and a modesty that seem very appropriate in a world of many religions, none of which can prove their claims to the satisfaction of the others!

Because it sees itself as a path to the realization of wisdom, Buddhism has developed many concrete practices that people can use to develop their spiritual lives, and Buddhists are happy to share them with non-Buddhists. Many of these—such as practices to develop inner peace, compassion or loving-kindness—are not particularly Buddhist per se, and can be used by people of any religion, or of none. Mindfulness meditation practices stripped of all their Buddhist trappings are used in hospitals today to help people reduce their stress and handle chronic pain. From a Buddhist point of view, anything that helps to reduce suffering is good.

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