Spiritual leaders and philosophers discuss Eastern traditions' views on the human person, exploring concepts like consciousness, self, qi, and dualism. They delve into Hinduism's idea of the human person, Buddhist perspective on the self, and Chinese ontology of qi. The podcast contrasts beliefs in individual and cosmic selves, highlights universal salvation and multiple paths to salvation, and examines the illusion of a continuous self in Buddhism.
Human person in Advaita Vedanta consists of physical body, subtle body, and immortal self as pure consciousness.
Buddhism rejects permanent self, focusing on alleviating suffering by ceasing illusion of self.
Deep dives
Hindu Philosophy and the Human Person
In Advaita Vedanta, the human person consists of three components: the physical body, the subtle body, and the self, which is pure consciousness. The self, representing the real essence of an individual, is believed to be immortal and transcends physical death. Hinduism emphasizes liberation from the cycle of birth and death through realizing the self's infinite nature, leading to enlightenment.
Buddhist Concept of No Self
Buddhism rejects the concept of a permanent self, advocating the idea of no self. The self is perceived as an illusion, with personhood understood as a continuum of psychophysical processes. The cessation of the illusion of self is seen as a root cause of alleviating suffering according to Buddhist philosophy.
Chinese Philosophy and the Human Person
Chinese philosophy views the human person as an entity made of qi, a vital energy shaping both the body and mind. The self in Chinese ontology is seen as an achievement requiring self-cultivation and alignment with nature. The Daoist approach emphasizes aligning the self with the cosmos by shedding false desires and judgments, presenting a distinctive view compared to Hinduism and Buddhism.
How do Buddhism, Chinese traditions and Hinduism address the essence
of human sentience? What is consciousness? What is the self? What is
qi? Do humans have souls or spirits? Are humans dualistic beings? Or
pure souls/spirits?
Featuring interviews with Swami Sarvapriyananda, Swami Medhananda, Jay Garfield, and Franklin Perkins.
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