The Philosophical Object Of Buddhism - 1060 Words

Over the course of our lectures, we have seen how it is possible to recognise family resemblances among different Buddhisms. Using the three keys taught in the lectures, and with reference to the readings, describe how this poem might be recognised as part of the scholarly object â€Å"Buddhism,† and how it might not be recognised as such. The protagonist of the poem, Who Are You, attempts to define his identity in the manner that most humans fall victim to. The inquirer, assumed to be Buddhist, is unsatisfied with his response as it contradicts the Dharma of the enlightened Buddha. Peter, when asked, â€Å"Who are you?† endeavors to label himself by the people that surround him, the place in which he was born, and the traits that he feels†¦show more content†¦The buddhist questioner, unsatisfied with Peter’s definition of the self interrogates him further and leads Peter to the second aggregate, vedana, feelings and sensations. Peter explains that his youngest daughter was a world class gymnast and his mother died when he was a child. These experiences give him feelings of joy and pain, and identify with Peter’s sense of self. Still unsatisfied, the buddhist questioner directs Peter to the third aggregate, samjna, cognition and perception. Peter says â€Å"I am an intelligent, accomplish ed man.† According to Peter, he perceives himself through his intelligence and success. Still unsatisfied, the buddhist asks him where Peter’s feelings are located, luring Peter to the fourth aggregate, Samskara, mental formation. Peter replies that his feelings are closer to his heart. At this point, he uses the word closer because he does not truly know where his feelings are located. Through this use of cautious language, one can see that Peter is mentally engaging with the conversation. Finally, the last of the five is when Peter is stumped at the perplexing questions of the buddhist and Peter simply says â€Å"I don’t know† who I am. It is at this point where Peter recognizes that all aspects of self are combined and intertwined and one cannot identify themselves using only one of these five essential components. The Four Noble Truths are seen in this poem, highlighting the teachings of the Buddha. The first of these four, Duhkha, is a