Mysticism and Morality A New Look At Old

InMysticism and Morality author Richard Jones explores an often neglected area of comparative religious ethics: mysticism. By addressing a myriad of traditions, both Eastern and Western, Jones explores the question: Is mysticism moral? His discussion of this question takes him through Hinduism, Jainism, varieties of Buddhism, Tantrism, Daoism, and Christianity. Richard Jones's unique work is a salient addition to philosophy of religion, ethics, and religious studies.

Richard H. Jones holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and history of religions from Columbia University

Part I Framing the Issues

Exploring Mysticism and Morality

3

(18)

Extreme Positions

The Issues

A Philosophical Project

Modern Concepts and Classical Cultures

The Need to Understand Mysticism in Context

The Forgotten Philosophical Issue: Are Mystics in Fact Moral?

``Ethics'' and ``Morality''

Overview

Notes

Morality

21

(28)

Emotion or Reason?

Realism or Antirealism?

The Factual Presuppositions of Morality

The Requirements for Morality

The Prescriptivity of Morality

Universalizability

Must Morality Be a Supreme Value?

The Problem of Justifying Morality

Justifying Ethical Codes and Actions

Concern for Others

Self-Interest and Selfishness

Impartiality

Actions and Persons

Virtue Ethics

Moral, Immoral, Nonmoral, Amoral

Conclusion

Notes

Religion and Mysticism

49

(30)

Religion as a Way of Life

Worldview and Ethos

The Particularity of Religious Traditions

Religion and Morality

Divine Command Theory

Is Religion Compatible with Morality?

Religion and Virtue Ethics

Mysticism

Mindfulness and the Depth-Mystical Experience

Mystical Enlightenment

Is Mysticism Compatible with Morality?

Notes

Part II The Traditions

The Upanishads

79

(16)

Brahman and Atman

Rebirth and Liberation

Conduct on the Path to Enlightenment

The Enlightened State

The Moral Status of the Enlightened

Possible Objections

Conclusion

Notes

Shankara's Advaita Vedanta

95

(20)

Brahman

The Realm of Illusion

Vidya and Moksha

The Advaita Path

The Enlightened State

Four Options for the Enlightened

The Moral Status of the Enlightened State

Possible Objections

Conclusion

Notes

The Bhagavad-g it a

115

(28)

Karma and Rebirth

Dharma

Dharma and Morality

The Metaphysics of the Bhagavad-g it a

Arjuna's Dilemma

Desireless Action

The Enlightened State

Universalizability

Is Arjuna Other-Regarding?

Is Krishna's Dharma Moral?

The Unaffectability of the Selves

Notes

Jainism

143

(6)

Souls and Matter

Vows and Virtues

Absolute Ahimsa

The Enlightened State and Sallekhana

The Moral Status of the Path and the Enlightened Way of Life

Notes

Theravada Buddhism

149

(32)

Suffering and its Cure

Buddhist Metaphysics and Morality

An Ethics of Intention

The Quest for Merit and the Quest for Nibbana

The Code of Conduct

A Buddhist ``Just War'' Doctrine

Possible Counterexamples

The Buddha's Social Teachings

Giving

The Transfer of Merit

The Sublime Attitudes

The Monastic Order

The Verdict for the Path

Nibbana and Morality

The Fully and Completely Enlightened Buddhas

The Solitary Buddhas

The Arahants

Conclusion

Notes

Mahayana Buddhism

181

(34)

The Bodhisattva

A New View of Karma

Compassion and Insight

Language and Paradox

Metaphysics and Morality

Deducing Value-Systems from Factual Claims

Virtues

Violating the Code of Conduct

Skillful Means

Zen

Social Action

Conclusion

Notes

Left-Handed Tantrism

215

(10)

The Path and the Enlightened State

Metaphysics

Turning Poison into Medicine

Freedom from Value-Attachments

Is Left-Handed Tantrism Moral?

Notes

Daoism

225

(34)

Reacting to Confucius

The Daoist Approach

The Daoist Way

Language and the Way

The Way and Mystical Experiences

The Enlightened State and Enlightened Action

Wu-wei

Governing by Wu-wei and the Ideal Society

Laozi's Values

Zhuangzi on Values

Does Daoism Reject Personal Agency?

Are the Way's Values Moral?

Are Daoists Moral?

Notes

Christianity

259

(42)

Western Theistic Belief-Claims

Theism and Morality

An Ethos of Love

Medieval Mysticism

Medieval Mysticism and Morality

Selflessness and the Presuppositions of Morality

Contemplation and the Active Life

Meister Eckhart and Living ``Without a Why''

The Question of Social Action

Antinomianism

Conclusion

Notes

Part III Analysis

Mystical Experiences and Morality

301

(28)

Are Mystical Experiences the Source of Morality?

Are Mystical Experiences Incompatible with Morality?

The Mystical Enlightened State and Morality

``Beyond Good and Evil''

Mystical Decision-Making

Conclusion

Notes

Mystical Ways of Life and Morality

329

(18)

Does ``Mystical Metaphysics'' Require Morality?

Factual Beliefs, Values, and Morality

The Role of Beliefs and Values in Mystical Decision-Making

Religious Codes of Ethics and the Question of Universals

Conclusion

Notes

The Lack of Social Action

347

(32)

The Fundamental Mystical Problem of Life

Religious Social Reform

The Problem with Politics

Social Virtues

Mystical and Prophetic Religiosity

Modern Mystics

Reinventing the Wheel of Dharma

Mahatma Gandhi

Is Mysticism Necessarily Individualistic?

Conclusion

Notes

What Can Mysticism Contribute to Morality Today?

379

(28)

Mystical Selflessness and Morality

Mystical Action in a Real World

The Basic Problem

The Case Against Mystical Values

Interpreting Mystical Experiences and Accepting a Real World

Mystical Experiences as Cognitive in a Real World

Mystical Selflessness and the Real World

Mystical Selflessness and Ethical Codes

Mystical Selflessness and Self-Interest

A Truncated Mysticism

Notes

Selected Bibliography

407

(20)

Index

427

(8)

About the Author

435

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Mysticism and Morality A New Look At Old Questions

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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Mysticism and Morality A New Look At Old Questions

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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