[MD] Buddhism's s/o

[MarshaV]

Greetings Andre,

Consider this:

"   Experience in Buddhism is comprised of two components - the objective 
component and the subjective component.  In other works, the things around 
us and we the perceivers.  Buddhism is noted for its analytical method in the 
area of philosophy and psychology.  What we mean by this is that the Buddha 
analyzes experience into various elements, the most basic of these being the 
five Skandhas or aggregates - form, feeling, perception, mental formation or 
volition and consciousness.   The five aggregates in turn can be analyzed 
into the eighteen elements (Dhatus) and we have a still more elaborate 
analysis in terms of seventy two elements.  This method is analytical 
as it breaks up things.  We are not satisfied with a vague notion of experience, 
but we analyze it, we probe it, we break it down into its component parts like 
we break down the chariot into the wheels, the axle and so on.  And we do 
this in order to get an idea how things work. When we see for instance a 
flower, or hear a piece of music, or meet a friend, all these experiences 
arise as a result of components.  This is what is called the analytical approach.  
And again this analytical approach is not at all strange to modern science and 
philosophy."
    (Peter D. Santina, 'Fundamentals of Buddhism',BAUS)

The BAUS is The Buddhist Association of the United States and is associated 
with the Chuang Yen Monastery

	http://www.baus.org/baus/index.html   

While awakening, realization or enlightenment seem to transcend the subject/
object dichotomy, Buddhist wisdom has always participated in the Intellectual 
Level., at least it seems to me.

Btw, it is my understanding that there is very little sign of a renewed interest in 
Buddhism in China.  Do you see it differently?


Marsha


 
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