ASIAN PHILOSOPHIES FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

Abstract

If we look at the basic streams of Greek-Judeo-Christian tradition, we see that death is still taken as a challenge that needs to be overcome. Facing impermanence and death in Asia is, however, profoundly different, gentler and less traumatic. An attitude of such maturity is supported by several thousands of years of spiritual tradition, which has developed philosophical views that allow every individual to face his/her eschatological life events. The European approach characterizes life and death as independent states, whereas the Asian line of thought usually presents them as parts of a life-death continuum where one element necessarily and expectedly always follows the other. It is, therefore, important to encourage intercultural communication in religion and philosophy, balancing the theoretical and the practical part. The universal foundations of religions and the philosophy of life and death may be pointed out and questioned. Simultaneously, the critical dimension and reevaluation of various Ways of searching for "good life" today might be exposed to ensure a more vital role of religion and philosophy in contemporary debates on topics concerning impermanence (the experience of death, the accompanying of the dying, the problem of a high suicide rate, ethical dilemmas such as the right to euthanasia, abortion, etc.). The goal is to learn from Asian traditions and to draw the basic structural foundations for a different, more accepting attitude towards impermanence of a modern individual. The main condition of accomplishing the practical goal is the development of proper conceptual tools and methodology that will be transferable and as such able to contribute to the philosophical field as well as to the development of other areas. Many contemporary American and European palliative care centres already use Asian philosophical insights and methods in the accompanying of the dying. The historically theoretical dimension of the topic aims to introduce critical thinking to the reflection of the world (as it is today, full of conflicts, disorientation, globalization challenges, etc.) and by doing so contribute to preparing people to face complex life situations and challenges.