Episode #217 ... Religion and Nothingness - Kyoto School pt. 2 - Nishitani
Philosophize This!
Deep Dive
Why does Nishitani consider the statement 'God is dead' by Nietzsche as a pro-religious statement?
Nishitani views 'God is dead' as a catalyst for a deeper engagement with nihilism, leading to a more profound religious quest. This crisis of meaning opens the door to a golden age of religious participation, where individuals seek a more authentic relationship with existence.
What is the primary difference between Nishitani's view of religion and the common Western perspectives?
Nishitani critiques Western perspectives for defining religion in utilitarian terms, focusing on its function rather than its transformative potential. He argues that religion should be understood as a subjective experience that leads to a reformulation of the self and its relationship to reality.
How does Nishitani describe the process of a religious quest?
A religious quest involves moving from a dualistic, utilitarian framing of the world to a state of self-emptying. This emptying liberates the self from the illusion of separation, allowing for a deeper connection to the interdependent network of being.
What role does nihility play in Nishitani's religious quest model?
Nihility represents the encounter with the instability of the forms and meanings we create in the field of consciousness. It signals a deeper engagement with existential questions, preparing the individual for a more profound experience of shunyata.
How does Nishitani define 'real self-realization of reality'?
Nishitani uses the term to describe the simultaneous actualization and understanding of reality. In shunyata, the self and the world are experienced as co-constituting, with no illusion of separation, leading to a mutually supportive interdependence.
Why does Nishitani argue that religion should not be dismissed despite its shallow use by many?
Nishitani believes that religion, when taken seriously, offers a unique path to spiritual transformation. He compares it to a university, where most experiences are shallow but a select few undergo profound intellectual and existential growth.
What is the significance of shunyata in Nishitani's philosophy?
Shunyata is the field of awareness where the illusion of separation between self and world is dissolved. It is an immanent state of being, always present but obscured by the projections of the self in the field of consciousness.
How does Simone Weil's concept of attention relate to Nishitani's religious quest?
Simone Weil's concept of attention exemplifies self-emptying by focusing on truly receiving the other person without projecting one's ego. This practice aligns with Nishitani's idea of liberating the self from the illusion of separation and experiencing the emptiness of things.
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