Is Buddhism a process theology? (contradiction, choices, choice, creation)

[Ozzie]

Quoting Willamena's thread OP in the Philosophy section:

"Everything exists in this moment (now). This moment is the basis of all creation. The universe wasn't created the Biblical six thousand years ago or even the scientific fifteen billion. The universe is created right now and right now it disappears. Before you even have time to recognize its existence, it's gone forever. Yet the present moment penetrates all of time and space. In Dogen's words, 'What is happening here and now is obstructed by happening itself; it has sprung free from the brains of happening.'
In other words, we can't know the present in the usual sense because the present is obscured by the present itself and by the act of perceiving it and conceiving of it. Form meets emptiness here and now and all of creation blossoms into being."
~Brad Warner on Dogen's teachings

Do you agree with Brad Warner's consciousness-centred interpretation of reality? Why or why not?

My response to the OP.

"Everything exists in this moment (now). This moment is the basis of all creation. The universe wasn't created the Biblical six thousand years ago or even the scientific fifteen billion. The universe is created right now and right now it disappears. Before you even have time to recognize its existence, it's gone forever.

This bit sits well with a Buddhist concept of reality.

Yet the present moment penetrates all of time and space.

This is an important insight that contradicts Buddhist notions of time and space.

In Dogen's words, 'What is happening here and now is obstructed by happening itself; it has sprung free from the brains of happening.'

This is an intellectual explanation of the contradiction that appears from the two previous parts.

In other words, we can't know the present in the usual sense because the present is obscured by the present itself and by the act of pe rceiving it and conceiving of it. Form meets emptiness here and now and all of creation blossoms into being."

This is a conclusion drawn from the paradox formed then described earlier

Do you agree with Brad Warner's consciousness-centred interpretation of reality? Why or why not?

Brad's interpretation describes a human cognitive limitation of ordinary consciousness.


END



Willamena's OP raises the question whether Buddhism is a process rather than intellectual theology.

Buddhism does describe a process IMO

Does it describe a process that is subconscious?

Do other theologies describe conscious systems of belief that are theory driven?

To what extent is Buddhism theory driven?

Is the paradox between process and static models of religion/consciousness resolvable?

Or is a better explanation of divergence between Buddhist and other models of consciousness based on a process v intellectual model?

How do you as a Buddhist resolve the problem of bringing insights obtained from Buddhist practice into the reality of daily living?

[Engyo]

Buddhism is a practice philosophy (NOT Theology). There is a process involved, but that process is driven by practice. As Nichiren said, "Without practice and study there is no Buddhism."

I don't have any problem bringing the insights obtained by practice into the reality of my daily life - they are a part of my life. They aren't theories that have happened to someone else that I must process - the processing takes place as a result of my practice and the insights are the fully processed results of that practice. They are already a part of me - of my understanding, my outlook and my way of relating to the world. Once the insight is obtained it is already processed - it is fully available, and choices and actions are colored by that insight. It is probably harder to ignore that insight and choose NOT to use it; this sometimes does occur when emotion takes momentary control, but over time that also becomes less and less of a problem.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by Engyo

Buddhism is a practice philosophy (NOT Theology). There is a process involved, but that process is driven by practice. As Nichiren said, "Without practice and study there is no Buddhism."

I don't have any problem bringing the insights obtained by practice into the reality of my daily life - they are a part of my life. They aren't theories that have happened to someone else that I must process - the processing takes place as a result of my practice and the insights are the fully processed results of that practice. They are already a part of me - of my understanding, my outlook and my way of relating to the world. Once the insight is obtained it is already processed - it is fully available, and choices and actions are colored by that insight. It is probably harder to ignore that insight and choose NOT to use it; this sometimes does occur when emotion takes momentary control, but over time that also becomes less and less of a problem.

I think Buddhism is ill-served by the label of philosophy. This sets up the argument of it being either religion or philosophy.

[Engyo]

OK - I went with philosophy as opposed to theology. Let's say it's a practice-based religion, then.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

I think Buddhism is ill-served by the label of philosophy. This sets up the argument of it being either religion or philosophy.

How so? What distinguishes Buddhism as a religion from Buddhism as a philosophy in your eyes?

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by Willamena

How so? What distinguishes Buddhism as a religion from Buddhism as a philosophy in your eyes?

If I was to answer your question in religion v philosophy terms I would fall into a trap.

Buddhism describes a process. Its interpretation is theological when discussed. As Enygo says, Buddhism may be acted out but this is entirely personal. Buddhism is better interpreted as religious process than as a philosophical pyramid built on sound foundations.

[astarath]

Merely because something has a process does not make it any less a religion I do not comprehend this argument pleas to be explain

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

This is an important insight that contradicts Buddhist notions of time and space.

It does? If all of existence is interdependent, then it is interdependent throughout space and time. This has certainly been my experience during those brief moments of awakening.

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Willamena's OP raises the question whether Buddhism is a process rather than intellectual theology.

Buddhism does describe a process IMO

The term "process theology" usually means something rather specific - the view of reality as put forth by philosophers and theologians such as Alfred Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. That doesn't seem to be what you're referring to?

Buddhism is empirical. There is a "theory" behind it, but it is based on one's own direct experience having put its theories into practice. Theory is secondary to practice. The Buddha said so himself in the Kalama sutta.