A Japanese Perspective of the Mind-Body-Land Connection
Hiroshi Abe
Yearbook for Eastern and Western Philosophy July 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1515/yewph-2024-0015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Christianity and Buddhism suggestively teach a mind-body-land connection that can be interpreted as a three-stage extension of the field of experience: consciousness corresponds to the first phase, the body to the second as a seat of super-individual unity grounded in nature's unifying power, and the land to the ultimate phase, where nature's transpersonal power merges with society's. |
Abstract
Abstract In this paper, I aim to interpret the mind-body-land connection that Christianity and Buddhism suggestively teach as a three-stage extension process of the field of experience, which proceeds accordingly as the three-step movement of our experience develops. Drawing on the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro, I first show why the mind or one’s subjective consciousness deserves to be regarded as the field of experience corresponding to the first phase of the movement of experience. I then explore how the second phase of the movement of experience requires the body as its corresponding field, which also serves as a seat of super-individual unity provided by the unifying power of nature. On this basis, I finally argue that this transpersonal power of nature is combined with that of society. Inspired by the Japanese philosopher Keiji Nishitani, I thus seek to clarify that these both powers are merged into the land as the ultimate field of our experience.