[MD] The Intellectual Gauntlet

[MarshaV]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mati Palm-Leis" <mpalm at merr.com>
To: <moq_discuss at lists.moqtalk.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: [MD] The Intellectual Gauntlet


> Ron,
>
>
>
> Ron:I agree that Bodvar's approach points to the distinction but I have to
> disagree with his notion that the s/o divide is a universal human 
> condition.
> He does point to Western cultures specific distinction of it's own
> intellectual level with out a doubt.
>
>
>
> Mati: Well I am glad we are in half agreement, but I am unaware in the
> Eastern Culture in the Historical period of 500 B.C. (give or take a 
> hundred
> years) that provide a different form of intellect that broke away from the
> social level as decisive as the SOM.  As I noted in my post to Ian, if you
> observe modern day research methologies in the eastern cultures they 
> likely
> teather themselves to the S/O split (SOM) because, I believe, because it 
> was
> the most effective means to define reality in a research environment.  If
> the Eastern philosophical tradition was able to define reality in a more
> effective means I would suggest that would be a) incorporated already or 
> b)
> displaced SOM or c) we would be studying them in the western world.
>
>
>
> As a side note Zen Buddhism as a whole rejects intellect as a means for
> greater understanding yet there is a common notion that perhaps Buddhism 
> is
> a different form of intellect.  It is what it is.



Don't be arrogant, or naive, or both.  Or lazy.

"The Prasa?gika Madhyamaka solely avowed technique is to show by prasa?ga 
(or Reductio Ad Absurdum) that any positive assertion ("it is", or "it is 
not") made about - or view proclaimed of - phenomena must be regarded as 
merely conventional (sa?v?ti or lokavyavahara). Therefore there is no 
position that constitutes the ultimate truth (paramartha), including the 
views and statements made by the Prasa?gikas themselves, which are held to 
be solely for the purpose of defeating all views. The Prasa?gikas also 
identify this to be the message of the Buddha who, as Nagarjuna put it, 
taught the Dharma for the purpose of refuting all views."

This is intellect!  See for yourself.



Marsha