Abstract
Maja Milčinski points out that Asian philosophers, especially in the Buddhist and Daoist traditions, developed methodologies for self-knowledge involving meditation and deep concentration that allowed intuitive epistemological access to what Zen Buddhists call the suchness of things. She argues that this intuitive form of knowledge is as relevant as European characterizations of knowledge as propositional or textual. Milčinski illustrates her point using diagrams (tu), which illustrate the type of practices engaged in by Asian mystical adepts seeking psycho-spiritual self-education and union of the heart-mind.
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Notes
- 1.
The Pinyin transcription for Chinese characters has been used, therefore Daoism instead of the older transcription Taoism, Dao instead of Tao etc.
- 2.
Lin, P.J. 1977: Tao Te Ching and Wang Pi’s Commentary. Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, The University of Michigan Press. p. 89.
- 3.
Benveniste, E.1973: Problems in General Linguistics. trans. Meek, M. Miami: The University of Miami Press.
- 4.
Aristotle 1955: De Anima 415 b. trans. Smith, J. A. in Ross W. D. ed. The Works of Aristotle. vol. 3 Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- 5.
Chuang, T. 1968: The Complete Works of Chuang T. trans. Watson, B. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 293.
- 6.
Lieh-tzu 1990: The Book of Lieh-tzu. trans. Graham, A. C. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 36–37.
References
Aristotle, (1955) De Anima 415 b, trans. J. A. Smith, in W. D. Ross (ed.) The Works of Aristotle, vol. 3, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Benveniste, E. (1973) Problems in General Linguistics, trans. M.E. Meek, Miami: The University of Miami Press.
Chuang, T. (1968) The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu, trans. B. Watson, New York: Columbia University Press.
Lin, P.J., (1977) Tao Te Ching and Wang Pi’s Commentary, Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, The University of Michigan Press).
Tzu, L. (1990) The Book of Lieh-tzu, trans. A. C. Graham, New York: Columbia University Press.
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Milčinski, M. (2023). Spiritual Diagram as a Guardian of Silence in Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. In: Weed, L.E. (eds) Mysticism, Ineffability and Silence in Philosophy of Religion. Comparative Philosophy of Religion, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18013-2_5
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