PeterJones

As synthesis points out, Buddhists have no need to identify as such. The most skilled Buddhist I know prefers to be thought of as a Taoist. He's also ...

I see the status quo as Materialism, Realism and the idea that metaphysics is hopeless and mysticism is irrelevant to philosophy. I subscribed to the ...

Oh okay. Do you really need me to explain that this is a misunderstanding? I would have thought it impossible to misunderstand Buddhism this wildly. A...

If you pursue this question you will unlock metaphysics. It is because all 'this or that' conclusions about the world-as-a-whole would be wrong. Metap...

I suppose the question is how to justify Buddhist epistemology. This is equivalent to asking how to justify Buddhist teachings and so it's a big ask. ...

You're right to say there is not yet a consensus. However, it is demonstrable that mysticism endorses a non-dual description of Reality. This translat...

There is much confusion about logic. The view I'm endorsing is perfectly (!) in accord with logic. What logic proves is that Reality outruns the categ...

What you say makes some sense. But for me metaphysics is a matter of logic and reason and it makes no difference who's doing it or what we want from i...

Okay. What's the question?

One doesn't have to be a Buddhist to endorse its teachings. The Buddha was not a Buddhist. . ,

I think you should at least do some reading. The entire message of mysticism is that Knowledge outruns thought. This is explained at vast length in te...

Ah yes. Quite right. But your disparaging comments about Buddhist epistemology suggest that it is a lot of nonsense, and it might take a long time to ...

I've taken no vows. I'm not a Buddhist. .. .

I should have said 'philosophically justified'. It is most famously justified logically by the Noble Nagarjuna in his Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle...

If they knew the truth of the Pali canon they would not behave in the way you describe. I wonder if you we're with a Theravada group. They are a bit t...

Darn it. I thought you'd call me out on that one. Thanks for the chat. .

There are no excepions to the rule. negation are always required. The point is not that there is a way around this limit, but that we can know more th...

I don't know what this means. I'm endorsing logical analysis, avoiding any explosions. But people just don't want to do the sums. Nor is there any nee...

Yes. This is what is so difficult to get across. There is a firm consensus. It states that all the theories that academic philosophers can think of do...

Of course Miles is more than fun. Can't disagree about that. I speak as a musician. My point is simply that in metaphysics there is no choice of paths...

If you can get a grip on the metaphysical scheme of Plotinus then you'll have no trouble with any other authentic teacher. They all say the same thing...

I am not giving my opinions. I can demionstrate everything I state. However, I wouldn't expect you to believe this without more evidence.or even advis...

The study of metaphysics reveals that all extreme metaphysical theories are logically absurd. This is the most general and final result of metaphysica...

What you say is well worth discussing but I've become involved in too many conversations to pursue it far. You say - "Which is to say, it must be poss...

Might it be true that you're distancing yourself from the people calling themselves Buddhists who you've met, rather than the teachings? I gained the ...

For me a study of philosophy must be a study of metaphysics, where metaphysics is approached as a science of logic. It's not nearly as much fun as lis...

Thank you for saying this, since I often wonder whether philosophy forums are a waste of time. . The doctrine of non-duality as expressed by Shankara,...

Jack - Just one thing about dualism. In Western philosophy this usually refers to mind-body dualism. In non-dualism it has a much broader meaning. It ...

Western philosophy is a woolly phrase, but it may be characterised by the endorsement of dualism and the rejection of mysticism. This has nothing to w...

In respect of its metaphysics you stated "I do believe it is not correct." This raised all my hackles.:) I don't understand your view and feel it unde...

I see we have very different ideas about what constitutes a study of philosophy.

No. I replied because you asked for 'anything else of interest', and so I tried to suggest your reasons for having problems with Buddhism were poor. ....

Hmm. The long post is not linked to yours, and the short one quotes you and you've replied. I'm a little confused. No matter.

I assumed the OP was hoping for some responses, so wrote something a little reassuring. . Why do you ask?

In order to see this you have to study his philosophy. Certain sayings require a specific model or descriptive theory. For instance, the statement 'tr...

What made me despair is that keeping the five precepts pretty much makes one a loser or at least a target for scorn in our society (and by many Buddhi...

Pardon me? Nagarjuna is a Patriarch and lays out the philosophy. I struggle to see how a philosophy that solves all problems of philosophy can be unin...

You say "I strongly reject the idea that the Tao Te Ching and similar theories stand in any privileged position for understanding reality." I'm not su...

Great! You are now a mystical philosopher. Within a week or two you'll know more about mysticism than most professional philosophers. . .

I must apologise. I should have warned you not to rush out and buy Fundamental Wisdom. You may find it interesting but his argument is very difficult ...

I don't think it's a problem talking about mysticsim. but it may be a problem talking about the dire state of the philosohy department. You have a poi...

The solution is to endorse a neutral metaphysical position, which is the formal philosophcial justification for the Perennial philosophy and non-duali...

Good old youtube. For nonduality teachers on YT I'd recommend Mooji, Sadhguru, Rupert Spira and Osho, but there are many more. I'm not sure the genera...

"Elsewhere you have hinted that insights about reality come from the nondualist philosophies. It is my understanding that the nondualist paths, in gen...

I don't think you have to be a scholar, as long as one is a practitioner. But for a philosophical understanding of Huxley it would be vital to study n...

In an academic context metaphysics is science of logic which uses a process of abduction (inference to the best explanation) by which we identify and ...

I share your appreciatation of Lao Tsu. However, I feel you are misunderstanding his metaphysics. For instance, you say " Part of that understanding i...

Hi Joe I am not a fan of fuzzy categories. I feel you are not giving mysticism its due since pain pills and religious beliefs are obviously not a solu...

Hi Jack What you say makes sense but it explains what I meant about scholasticism. You say that you're not sure there is such a thing as a neutral the...

Books on this topic are rare and usually difficult. My own is in the editing stage Immediately relevant are Nagarjuna's Fundamental Wisdom of the Midd...