[Buddha-l] Non-Arising

[Erik Hoogcarspel]

Op 26-2-2010 13:17, Dee schreef:
>
> On the other hand, Indians have had a complex and subtle knowledge of the mind for thousands of years while western psychology is only one hundred years old.
>
> You assume, perhaps, because I threw a few hard questions at Bernhard about "experiences" that something cynical or dismissive is at
> play. The questions I asked come directly from Nagarjuna -- no questions are more Buddhistic  than those. And they are intended to be provocative and force one to question assumptions. Also nothing can be more Buddhistic
>    
>
Sorry Dee,
but this is not right. It may be that the term 'psychology' is not very 
old, but also in the West there has been a lot of investigation into the 
nature of the mind. Aristotle for one wrote an interesting book about 
the psyche. Indian science on the other hand is often hidden in long 
lists and dead traditions. Ayurveda institutes for instance have large 
libraries full of theory, but very few professors there have any 
experience in practice, while lots of ayurvedic practicioners in the 
field apply their remedies without any clue why they work.
Some think that the Abhidharma is the result of generations of 
experimental research, while in reality it comes from theoritical 
discussions. There is undoubtedly much knowledge in Indian tradition as 
well is in most other traditions, but there's also a lot of stupidity.

erik