A RESPONSE TO NIETZSCHE'S CRITIQUE OF THE BUDDHIST APPROACH TO PAIN AND SUFFERING WITH A CONSIDERATION OF VEDANĀNUPASSANĀ IN BURMESE THERAVĀDA BUDDHISM
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Abstract
This study presents a critical study of Nietzsche’s contention that Buddhism involves a retreat from suffering. It will offer a response in the form of an examination of the approach to pain and suffering based on vedanānupassanā in Theravāda Buddhism. Vedanānupassanā means a contemplation of feelings, which includes pain and pleasure, for the purpose of insight into the true nature of feeling. In this practice, one needs to contemplate pain as pain, pleasure as pleasure, and indifference as indifference, without either rejecting or affirming any feeling. Hence, it is a method of facing reality as reality in Theravāda Buddhism. The first part will study Nietzsche’s general perspective on Buddhism, on pain and suffering and his criticisms on the Buddhist retreat from pain and suffering. The second part will specifically discuss the Theravāda perceptive on pain and suffering. In the third part, the practice of vedanānupassanā will be investigated to understand its approach to pain and suffering. Finally, the article will show that while Nietzsche has important insights which help Buddhists reflect on their own approach to pain and suffering, Nietszche remains unaware of certain Buddhist meditation practices that accept suffering through meditation. It will show that these practices go beyond Nietzsche's belief that one has to affirm suffering to affirm life.
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