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Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics
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Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 4951

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. David Peter Lawrence

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Philosophy and Ethics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
Interests: Hindu and Buddhist religion and philosophy; nondual Śaivism and tantra; Sanskrit; intercultural philosophy and other theories of religions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Like all living beings, adherents to religious and philosophical traditions have endeavored to adapt to changing circumstances. Modern, postmodern and postcolonial contexts have been filled with turmoil regarding traditional philosophies and religions. In the contemporary world, Buddhists have been particularly creative in steering between reaction and secularism in order to realize and demonstrate their tradition’s ongoing relevance to scientific, political and liberatory thought and values. This Special Issue will include academic philosophy and practical—often also philosophical—ethics. Articles may agree or disagree with various aspects of Buddhism.

Several academic articles will cover doctrines such as dependent origination, impermanence, and others as treated variously by philosophical successions such as Abhidharma, Mādhyamaka and Yogācāra. Classic interpretations of basic Buddhist doctrines will be engaged with contemporary philosophy of science, mind and religion, cognitive science, phenomenology and existentialism on topics such as causality, process, spirituality and embodiment.

Life, including contemporary life, is not entirely captured by academic research on abstract topics.  Articles on contemporary Buddhist practical ethics include theories only as integral to the implementation of strategies for ethical struggle. These essays will cover what has been broadly described as socially engaged Buddhism on issues such as spiritual values, justice and equity, peacekeeping, feminism and environmentalism.

We will also solicit articles on the alternative metaphysical, epistemological, existential and ethical orientations of Pure Land Buddhism.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400–600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors (david.lawrence@und.edu) or to the Religions Editorial Office (religions@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer-review.

Prof. Dr. David Peter Lawrence
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Buddhist philosophy
  • Buddhist ethics
  • intercultural philosophy
  • philosophy of mind
  • intercultural ethics
  • engaged Buddhism
  • Buddhist feminism
  • Abhidharma
  • Yogācāra
  • Mādhyamaka
  • Pure Land

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 416 KiB  
Article
Granny Chan in Zen Buddhism: The Historical Deposition and Cultural Manifestation of Buddhist Women’s Zen Wisdom
by Pinghua Liu and Lizhen Ye
Religions 2025, 16(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030331 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 661
Abstract
Zen/Chan Buddhism, as a profound spiritual tradition, has witnessed the emergence and development of a unique phenomenon known as “老婆禪 Granny Chan”, which is deeply intertwined with the spiritual pursuits of Buddhist women throughout history. This proposed research aims to expound and interrogate [...] Read more.
Zen/Chan Buddhism, as a profound spiritual tradition, has witnessed the emergence and development of a unique phenomenon known as “老婆禪 Granny Chan”, which is deeply intertwined with the spiritual pursuits of Buddhist women throughout history. This proposed research aims to expound and interrogate the hidden treasures of Zen wisdom amassed by these remarkable women, thereby shedding new light on the often-overlooked contributions within the Zen domain. To begin with, by scouring ancient Zen texts, anecdotes, and historical records, we will trace the roots and evolutionary path of “Granny Chan”. These sources are replete with accounts of nameless “grannies” engaging in profound dialogs and encounters with Zen masters. Their sharp insights and spontaneous responses during dharma exchanges, as exemplified in classic koans like “婆子點心 The Granny’s Dimsum” and “婆子燒庵 The Granny Burning the Hermitage”, reveal a depth of understanding that belies their marginalized status in traditional religious narratives. Subsequently, this study will focus on dissecting the distinct ways in which their Zen wisdom was manifested within the cultural context of Zen. Their approach, characterized by simplicity, directness, and a deep connection to life’s realities, not only added a refreshing dimension to Zen teachings but also subtly challenged the male-dominated paradigm prevalent in the religious fields. By highlighting these expressions, we can appreciate how Buddhist women’s insights became an integral part of Zen’s cultural fabric. In the contemporary context, this research holds multiple implications. It serves as a corrective to the historical neglect of Buddhist women’s spiritual achievements, providing a source of inspiration and empowerment for modern female practitioners. Moreover, it prompts a rethinking of gender equality within religious traditions, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable recognition of women’s roles in the Zen community and beyond. Overall, through the exploration of “Granny Chan”, we anticipate contributing to a better understanding of Zen Buddhism’s historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions, bridging the gender gap and enriching the ongoing discourse on religious wisdom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics)
24 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Can Madhyamaka Support Final Causation? ‘Groundless Teleology’ in Mahāyāna Buddhism, C.S. Peirce, and Chaos Theory
by Jesse R. A. Berger
Religions 2025, 16(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020144 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 815
Abstract
One recurrent criticism of the Madhyamaka doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā) is its equation with a potential axiological nihilism that undermines, inter alia, the telos of Buddhist practice. Here, I speculate that Madhyamaka non-foundationalism could be compatible with the naturalized teleology of [...] Read more.
One recurrent criticism of the Madhyamaka doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā) is its equation with a potential axiological nihilism that undermines, inter alia, the telos of Buddhist practice. Here, I speculate that Madhyamaka non-foundationalism could be compatible with the naturalized teleology of C.S. Peirce. In brief, Peirce argues on pragmatic grounds that the ‘final cause’ of events does not refer to a predetermined finis ultimis or summum bonum with any ‘intrinsic nature’ (‘svabhāva’). Rather, a final cause is a general continuum of lawfulness (‘Third’/future) that mediates between indeterminate possibility (‘First’/present) and determinate actuality (‘Second’/past). Therefore, while a continuum of ‘purposiveness’ is a rational precondition for all temporal events, its futural significance means it can only ever be asymptotically realized; indeed, the constitutively general form of each ‘final’ cause is, practically speaking, fundamentally vague and open-ended to some degree. Finally, I show that the so-called strange attractors of dynamical systems theory provide an imperfect model for this naturalized ‘groundless teleology’. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics)
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13 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
An Indian Debate on Semantic Internalism and Externalism: Śāntarakṣita’s Tattvasaṃgraha on the Meaning of Words
by Long Yin Sin
Religions 2024, 15(12), 1548; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121548 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1172
Abstract
The semantic internalist–externalist debate is one of the central themes in contemporary philosophy. The present paper aims to explore the dispute between Śāntarakṣita and his opponents over the meaning of words (śabdārtha) in the śabdārthaparīkṣā chapter from the perspective of the [...] Read more.
The semantic internalist–externalist debate is one of the central themes in contemporary philosophy. The present paper aims to explore the dispute between Śāntarakṣita and his opponents over the meaning of words (śabdārtha) in the śabdārthaparīkṣā chapter from the perspective of the internalist–externalist debate in semantics. The present paper consists of three main parts. In the first part, I will elucidate the internalist character of Śāntarakṣita’s apoha theory and the externalist characters of his opponents’ theories. The second part will be an examination of an Indian Externalist Argument against Śāntarakṣita’s apoha presented in the chapter. In the third part, I will explore how Śāntarakṣita attempts to refute this argument by resorting to the Dharmakīrtian notion of adhyavasāya (false ascertainment). Additionally, to emphasize a contemporary approach, I will offer and highlight the intercultural interpretations of these Indian externalist and internalist arguments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics)
10 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
The Reception and Transformation of Ippen (1234–1289)’s Religious Tenets and Practices by Enju Kato (1919–2021) and Shōjōkō-ji
by Saiping An
Religions 2024, 15(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15030277 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1373
Abstract
This article explores the reception and transformation of Ippen 一遍 (1234–1289)’s religious tenets and practices by Enju Kato 加藤円住 (1919–2021) and his temple, Shōjōkō-ji 清浄光寺. While Enju Kato asserts that his life has been dedicated to adhering and enacting Ippen’s concept of “renunciation”, [...] Read more.
This article explores the reception and transformation of Ippen 一遍 (1234–1289)’s religious tenets and practices by Enju Kato 加藤円住 (1919–2021) and his temple, Shōjōkō-ji 清浄光寺. While Enju Kato asserts that his life has been dedicated to adhering and enacting Ippen’s concept of “renunciation”, he has reinterpreted this concept based on his personal experiences and comprehension. Second, Enju Kato and Shōjōkō-ji have inherited some of Ippen’s religious practices yet adapted these to align with contemporary settings. This article presents a case study discussing the acceptance and transformation of doctrines and practices of Jishū 時宗 in the contemporary era, which has been overlooked by academia thus far. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Approaches to Buddhist Philosophy and Ethics)
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