Bill Bailey
Sat, 30 Sep 2006 16:51:54 -0700
Gary R. The bhodisattva relinquishes escape from the great wheel of death and birth and union with the Absolute to help others achieve enlightenment. Thus the bhodisattva is reborn again and again into the world of suffering with no reward except doing the work. About the only western equivalent I can think of is a Christian refusing at death to go to heaven so long as there lost souls in Hell, and going to Hell to save them. Such selflessness is probably beyond most westerners unless they become a Buddhist monk or priest, preferably at an early age. And if they became bhodisattvas, we'd never know; the existence of such persons is an article of faith. From what I've read, Peirce doesn't strike me as being of the bhodisattva temperament, but I'm a long way from making competent pronouncements about Peirce. I think the appropriate thing for the list is for Gary F to elaborate on the close parallels he finds between Peirce's ideal of scientific method and the bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism. As you point out, that is very much on topic. Bill Bailey
Bill and Gary, Bill Bailey wrote:This is not the venue for debating the similarities and contrasts between traditional Occident and Orient.However, Gary's comment that he sees a close parallel to Peirce's ideal of scientific method (or of the motivation for it) in the bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism" suggests that there may indeed be reasons for continuing this discussion here. In any event, it has been a most interesting discussion so far with excellent points made by both of you. As it stands it feels to me to be something of a draw. So I hope you will both consider continuing your discussion here (you might try changing the Subject of the thread if you do). Gary R.--- Message from peirce-l forum to subscriber [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.10/459 - Release Date: 9/29/2006
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