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.
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