http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc...787&cn=394
EXCERPT: "Companion to Buddhist "is suitable for students of Buddhist philosophy, but it can also serve as a more neutral guide to Buddhist thinking and practice. By neutral, I mean that Buddhism has largely been hijacked by the self-help industry, where it is typically used both uncritically and unreflectively. This self-help tendency may be part of Buddhist ethics, as Sallie B. King emphasizes: "Though Buddhism developed a robust personal ethic, it may well be accused of never having developed a systematic and comprehensive social ethic. Buddhist personal ethics do not translate directly or realistically into a fully functional social ethic" (p. 648). It's an inward practice, believing that truth comes from within. In a paradoxical way, the popular versions of Buddhism tend to forget or neglect key concepts such as impermanence and non-self—that is, inner truth is not linked to a permanent "me."
In the introduction, Emmanuel says Buddhism "is a living tradition that traces its origin to the life and teaching of Siddhattha Gotama (Skt Siddhártha Gautama), the historical Buddha" (p. 1). Not much is known about the founder of Buddhism. Furthermore, as with contemporary figures like Jesus and Socrates, the Buddha never wrote anything. Yet the majority of the authors seem to embrace what apparently was the Buddha's pragmatic attitude toward the values of his teachings. At times, this gives the book a too-polished description of Buddhism, which is fine, although I wouldn't mind a more critical philosophical approach when presenting the underlying philosophy of Buddhism.
[...] The Buddhist philosophy follows a diagnostic scheme: symptom = pain, cause = craving, prognosis = end pain, treatment = the path. According to studies in mindfulness, the path works for many of life's pains. This, of course, doesn't suggest that it is the only path, or that the path is without bumps (e.g. gender issues). Regardless what my comments, "A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy" is a highly welcome mammoth of a book. It is a good starting point and good companion for debate within different philosophies....
EXCERPT: "Companion to Buddhist "is suitable for students of Buddhist philosophy, but it can also serve as a more neutral guide to Buddhist thinking and practice. By neutral, I mean that Buddhism has largely been hijacked by the self-help industry, where it is typically used both uncritically and unreflectively. This self-help tendency may be part of Buddhist ethics, as Sallie B. King emphasizes: "Though Buddhism developed a robust personal ethic, it may well be accused of never having developed a systematic and comprehensive social ethic. Buddhist personal ethics do not translate directly or realistically into a fully functional social ethic" (p. 648). It's an inward practice, believing that truth comes from within. In a paradoxical way, the popular versions of Buddhism tend to forget or neglect key concepts such as impermanence and non-self—that is, inner truth is not linked to a permanent "me."
In the introduction, Emmanuel says Buddhism "is a living tradition that traces its origin to the life and teaching of Siddhattha Gotama (Skt Siddhártha Gautama), the historical Buddha" (p. 1). Not much is known about the founder of Buddhism. Furthermore, as with contemporary figures like Jesus and Socrates, the Buddha never wrote anything. Yet the majority of the authors seem to embrace what apparently was the Buddha's pragmatic attitude toward the values of his teachings. At times, this gives the book a too-polished description of Buddhism, which is fine, although I wouldn't mind a more critical philosophical approach when presenting the underlying philosophy of Buddhism.
[...] The Buddhist philosophy follows a diagnostic scheme: symptom = pain, cause = craving, prognosis = end pain, treatment = the path. According to studies in mindfulness, the path works for many of life's pains. This, of course, doesn't suggest that it is the only path, or that the path is without bumps (e.g. gender issues). Regardless what my comments, "A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy" is a highly welcome mammoth of a book. It is a good starting point and good companion for debate within different philosophies....