Buddhism
In light of the foci of Rahula’s classic book, let’s take as our focus this week your analysis of Buddha’s Four Noble Truths. Don’t spend all your energy presenting them to us, rather, explore the wisdom they convey to you; critique this Buddhist core orthodoxy, orthopraxy, and orthopathy (as apparent in the 4 Noble Truths); and investigate their psychological and spiritual dimensions. Do touch on all four and consider how they work together as a “way.”
If you are familiar with patristic theology, compare what we find in Buddhism to such Christian notions as “passion” (pathos), dispassion (apatheia), contemplation (theoria), discrimination (diakrisis), illusion (plani), stillness (hesychia), and watchfulness (nipsis).
Use only the following book:
Walpola Rahula. What the Buddha Taught, 2nd ed. New York: Grove Press, 1974. Print. ISBN-10:
0802130313; ISBN-13: 9780802130310
