Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy
The human response to the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a concerning decline in empathy for each other and the planet. A dualistic conception of mind and body coupled with a capitalist society that requires belief in an inherent self to fuel consumerism both complicate our ability to empathize becau...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/108 |
| _version_ | 1797476873764077568 |
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| author | Jennifer Carmichael |
| author_facet | Jennifer Carmichael |
| author_sort | Jennifer Carmichael |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The human response to the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a concerning decline in empathy for each other and the planet. A dualistic conception of mind and body coupled with a capitalist society that requires belief in an inherent self to fuel consumerism both complicate our ability to empathize because these ideas reify our conventional self. This paper argues that an understanding of the Buddhist conception of emptiness as explored in Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (<i>Mūlamadhyamakakārikā</i>) paired with mindful observation of embodied physical experience can allow for an understanding of “self” as a web of interacting processes within the larger web of interacting processes which constitutes the world. This can facilitate a shift in our mode of engagement with the world towards one of empathy because it demonstrates the emptiness of essence of an inherent self and instead situates the conventional “self” as interrelated <i>with</i> the world. Touching on related concepts such as Thich Nhat Hanh’s <i>interbeing</i>, this paper argues that contemplating emptiness while practicing Buddhist mindfulness techniques rooted in bodily sensation can facilitate empathy, which allows for the possibility of not only recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also of rebuilding our global community and thriving as a more empathetic society in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:09:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cd87056589d46cda58a7f2bc39b1ac4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:09:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cd87056589d46cda58a7f2bc39b1ac42023-11-23T21:51:15ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-01-0113210810.3390/rel13020108Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist PhilosophyJennifer Carmichael0Department of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaThe human response to the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a concerning decline in empathy for each other and the planet. A dualistic conception of mind and body coupled with a capitalist society that requires belief in an inherent self to fuel consumerism both complicate our ability to empathize because these ideas reify our conventional self. This paper argues that an understanding of the Buddhist conception of emptiness as explored in Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (<i>Mūlamadhyamakakārikā</i>) paired with mindful observation of embodied physical experience can allow for an understanding of “self” as a web of interacting processes within the larger web of interacting processes which constitutes the world. This can facilitate a shift in our mode of engagement with the world towards one of empathy because it demonstrates the emptiness of essence of an inherent self and instead situates the conventional “self” as interrelated <i>with</i> the world. Touching on related concepts such as Thich Nhat Hanh’s <i>interbeing</i>, this paper argues that contemplating emptiness while practicing Buddhist mindfulness techniques rooted in bodily sensation can facilitate empathy, which allows for the possibility of not only recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also of rebuilding our global community and thriving as a more empathetic society in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/108empathyattentionembodimentemptiness |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Carmichael Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy Religions empathy attention embodiment emptiness |
| title | Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy |
| title_full | Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy |
| title_fullStr | Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy |
| title_short | Paying Attention: An Examination of Attention and Empathy as They Relate to Buddhist Philosophy |
| title_sort | paying attention an examination of attention and empathy as they relate to buddhist philosophy |
| topic | empathy attention embodiment emptiness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/108 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jennifercarmichael payingattentionanexaminationofattentionandempathyastheyrelatetobuddhistphilosophy |