Philosophy as Practice

Abstract

This chapter looks at another way to understand the philosophical aspects of Buddhism. Instead of seeing philosophy as about abstract things to know, we can think of it also as a kind of mental exercise, an intellectual training regimen. Rather than something to know, it is something to work through, something to do. Much of Buddhist philosophy can be read on two levels, as a description of how things are and as instructions for how to realize it. As such, Buddhist philosophy is like an exercise an individual goes through to help them get started in the right direction; it is a process that they go through to get their mind out of its old habits. This means that, like any practice, it is not for everyone and eventually, that individual may not need it anymore.