The Four Philosophies (4) The intellectual philosophies and the Four Philosophies
I revere the value of intellectual philosophies so much, because the intellectual philosophies are our common philosophies, and it has developed so excellently in the World History. Therefore when we think about a philosophy, it usually suggests the intellectual philosophy. But in the case of Buddhism it insists the existence of a practical philosophy, which is different from the intellectual philosophy. When we use the word of the practical philosophy, in the case of the intellectual philosophies, we usually use the words of the practical philosophy as the word, which suggests the practical philosophy, which is thought in the area of intellectual philosophy. But in the case of Buddhism, we usually use the word of the practical philosophy as the philosophy, which does not belong the intellectual philosophy, but which belongs to the practical philosophy. Therefore in the case of Buddhism we have to think that there are two kinds of philosophies, the one is the usual interectual philosophy, and the other is the practical philosophy, which is different dimensionally from the intellectual philsophies.
Therefore it is necessary for us to interpret that the philosophy of pain, or idealistic philosophy, and the philosophy of accumulation, or materialistic philosophy, belong to the intellectual philosophies in the Four Philosophies, and the philosophy of self-regulation, or the philosophy of act, and the philosophy of morals, or the philosophy of Reality, belong to the practical philosophies in the Four Philosophies. In other words we should think that the group of the philosophy of pain, and the philosophy of accumulation, belong to the intellectual philosophies, but the philosophy of self-regulation, or the philosophy of act, and the philosophy of morals, or philosophy of Reality, belong to the philosophy of practice. Even in the Four Philosophies, the former two belong to the intellectual philosophy and the latter two belong to the practical philosophies.
The philosophy of intellect and the philosophy of practice are combined into one in the Four Philosophies. And we can think that the two former philosophies, which are the representative of the Western Civilization and the latter philosophies, which are the representative of Buddhism Civilization, and both have combined into one in the Four Philosophies. And as I said before, the recent Euro-Amerian Civilization, for example Existentialism, Philosophy of life, Phenomenology, Pragmatism, and so forth, have begun to show the strong tendency of Realism. Therefore I expect that the Euro-American Civilization, which has been based on Idealism and Materialism, which recently have been aproaching to Realism enormously, have possibility to meet together, and to establish the Age of Realism. In such a meaning, I expect that the theory of the Four Philosophies will become a very big bridge, which can connect the very great intellectual Western Philosophies with the Buddhist Realism.
Thinking like this, I think that relying upon the theory of the Four Philosophies, we, human beings, will be able to combine the gorgeous Western Intellectual Civilization with Realistic Buddhist Civilizations. But at the same time, if we, human beings, refuse the utilizing the Four philosophies, it might become very difficult for us to combine the Western Civilization with the Buddhist Realism. Without utilizing the Four Philosophies it might be very difficult for us to combine the Western Intellectual Civilization with Buddhist Realizm. But relying upon the theory of the Four Philosophies it might be possible for human beings to combine the Western Intellectual Civilization with the Buddhist Realism. Then relying upon the Four Philosophies we can understand the Total Structure of Buddhist Philosophical System for the first time.
It is said that when Gautama Buddha wanted to have his first lecture of Buddhism, he hesitated so much to have the lecture of the Four Philosophies, because the Theory of the Four Philosophies seemed to be too difficult for usual audience to understand at that time. And we can think that it is very natural for ordinary audience to be so difficult to understand the true meaning of the Four Philosophies, because even in the 21st Century, it is not so easy for the people today to understand them. But we should think that how it is important for us to understand the Theory of the Four Philosophies for understanding the Buddhist Truth.
Therefore it is necessary for us to interpret that the philosophy of pain, or idealistic philosophy, and the philosophy of accumulation, or materialistic philosophy, belong to the intellectual philosophies in the Four Philosophies, and the philosophy of self-regulation, or the philosophy of act, and the philosophy of morals, or the philosophy of Reality, belong to the practical philosophies in the Four Philosophies. In other words we should think that the group of the philosophy of pain, and the philosophy of accumulation, belong to the intellectual philosophies, but the philosophy of self-regulation, or the philosophy of act, and the philosophy of morals, or philosophy of Reality, belong to the philosophy of practice. Even in the Four Philosophies, the former two belong to the intellectual philosophy and the latter two belong to the practical philosophies.
The philosophy of intellect and the philosophy of practice are combined into one in the Four Philosophies. And we can think that the two former philosophies, which are the representative of the Western Civilization and the latter philosophies, which are the representative of Buddhism Civilization, and both have combined into one in the Four Philosophies. And as I said before, the recent Euro-Amerian Civilization, for example Existentialism, Philosophy of life, Phenomenology, Pragmatism, and so forth, have begun to show the strong tendency of Realism. Therefore I expect that the Euro-American Civilization, which has been based on Idealism and Materialism, which recently have been aproaching to Realism enormously, have possibility to meet together, and to establish the Age of Realism. In such a meaning, I expect that the theory of the Four Philosophies will become a very big bridge, which can connect the very great intellectual Western Philosophies with the Buddhist Realism.
Thinking like this, I think that relying upon the theory of the Four Philosophies, we, human beings, will be able to combine the gorgeous Western Intellectual Civilization with Realistic Buddhist Civilizations. But at the same time, if we, human beings, refuse the utilizing the Four philosophies, it might become very difficult for us to combine the Western Civilization with the Buddhist Realism. Without utilizing the Four Philosophies it might be very difficult for us to combine the Western Intellectual Civilization with Buddhist Realizm. But relying upon the theory of the Four Philosophies it might be possible for human beings to combine the Western Intellectual Civilization with the Buddhist Realism. Then relying upon the Four Philosophies we can understand the Total Structure of Buddhist Philosophical System for the first time.
It is said that when Gautama Buddha wanted to have his first lecture of Buddhism, he hesitated so much to have the lecture of the Four Philosophies, because the Theory of the Four Philosophies seemed to be too difficult for usual audience to understand at that time. And we can think that it is very natural for ordinary audience to be so difficult to understand the true meaning of the Four Philosophies, because even in the 21st Century, it is not so easy for the people today to understand them. But we should think that how it is important for us to understand the Theory of the Four Philosophies for understanding the Buddhist Truth.
posted by GUDO NISHIJIMA | 9:37 AM
3 Comments:
Nishijima Roshi, Thank you for expounding on the Buddha's philosophy of the four noble truths. You are correct in that for most of us these seemingly simple statements are hard to understand. So your interpretation and comments are appreciated and worth studying.
I really like the example of using the four philosophies in business. I am having difficulty understanding the philosophy of action somewhat but it seems one can remain in reality while using the illusion of the two intelectual philosophies.It seems before the reliazation of reality beyond the intellect one mistakes the two intellectual philosophies to be reality which causes many difficulties.
For oxeye San
Thank you very much for your kindness to read my blog. I think that the Four Philosophies in Buddhism is a very imporant bridge between the gorgeous Western Humanism and Gautama Buddha's Realism.
For Lone Wolf San
Thank you very much for your kindness to read my blog. I think that if there were no Western precisely intellectual philosophies, I could never understand Gautama Buddha's teachings theoretically, and so I think that, because of so excellent Western intellectual civilizations, we human beings have begun to understand the true meaning of Buddhist realism theoretically for the first time relying the clear understanding of contradictory situation of idealism and materialism.
For Rich H. San
Thank you very much for your kindness to read my blog. I revere the intellectual Western civilization so much, because relying upon the so exact cosideration in the Western philosophy, we can understand the Buddhist Realism on the basis of philosophical theory for the first time at last, and so we should never forget the so excellent value of the Western civilizations at all.
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