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Introduction
Skills and Expertise
Publications
Publications (24)
How a positive naturalist understanding of mystical experiences is possible and how these experiences and accompanying practices can be incorporated into a secular mysticism are discussed. Philosophical issues related to such a secular mysticism are also raised: is a truly secular mysticism possible? Are mystical experiences cognitive of transcende...
The purpose of this article is to expose a basic flaw at the root of perennialism as a method for studying mysticism—its distinction between ‘exoteric’ and ‘esoteric’ components of mysticism and religion. Rather than being distinct, the specific ‘exoteric’ doctrines of a given mystic’s tradition penetrate the mystics’ knowledge-claims. Thus, the ‘e...
Scientific interest in drug‐induced mystical experiences reemerged in the 1990s. This warrants reexamining the philosophical issues surrounding such studies: Do psychedelic drugs cause mystical experiences? Are drug‐induced experiences the same in nature as other mystical experiences? Does the fact that mystical experiences can be induced by drugs...
Neuroscientific scanning of meditators is taken as providing data on mystical experiences. However, problems concerning how the brain and consciousness are related cast doubts on whether any understanding of the content of meditative experiences is gained through the study of the brain. Whether neuroscience can study the subjective aspects of medit...
The purpose of this article is to explore certain parallels and divergencies between contemporary philosophy of science and the comparative study of mysticism. Two types of mystical experiences, “depth-mystical” and “nature-mystical,” are first differentiated. Next, the role of both experience and doctrine in the development and justification of my...
Is Theravāda Buddhism a moral way of life? Both the classical Pāli texts and contemporary Theravāda Buddhist practice are
examined to determine the answer. After characterizing morality and placing the Theravāda code of conduct in its religious
context, the central focus of attention is whether the Buddhist action-guides involve a concern for the w...
Is Theravāda Buddhism a moral way of life? Both the classical Pāli texts and contemporary Theravāda Buddhist practice are examined to determine the answer. After characterizing morality and placing the Theravāda code of conduct in its religious context, the central focus of attention is whether the Buddhist action-guid...
Reproduction. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1980. Bibliography : leaves 445-455.