As explained earlier, the two cognitive approaches are vastly different. In the West, the world is viewed as a platform on which many studies and advancements have been made in the material realm. The understanding and utilization of the material world have never been better. In contrast, the tradition of meditative introspection in the East declined significantly by the end of the Qing Dynasty, resulting in fewer people achieving enlightenment through meditation. There was a lack of emphasis on meditative introspection, and the development of science and technology lagged far behind the achievements of the West. As a result, the situation in the East was quite bleak during that time.
The industrial revolution started much earlier in the West, allowing them to develop new technologies and weapons, such as warships and cannons, to explore the world. When Westerners arrived in China with their advanced inventions, they defeated the Chinese with ease, leading to the signing of unfair treaties and the ceding of territory. The shock of this defeat destroyed the spirit and faith of the Chinese people in their own culture and traditions, causing them to believe that Eastern philosophy was useless. As a result, they turned to the West to learn modern knowledge and techniques. Many Chinese people came to the United States to be educated, but what they wanted to learn was not about the nature of the mind, rather to learn how the Western approach to perceiving the world and understanding the function of the mind. Some focused on science, while others studied cultural or medical research. Unfortunately, many abandoned the best part of their own traditional culture, meditative introspection.
Appearance and Essence
The three major schools of philosophy mentioned above were created based on the two cognitive approaches. However, Buddhism does not fit into any of these schools, as they are not comprehensive enough to accommodate Buddhism, which is considered the most inclusive and ultimate worldview.
I'm not sure if my explanation about the worldview above would interest you. However, my fellow Dharma practitioners online may find it intriguing as we have been discussing the topic for a long time. In fact, learning Buddhism involves two parts: establishing the correct worldview theoretically and realizing it through Dharma practice. Buddhism is the only worldview that can be truly realized through dedicated practice.
The three worldviews described above can be studied as philosophical theories, but they cannot be proven to be true. For instance, science claims that the world is made up of matter, but this claim cannot be fully substantiated since the smallest substance that forms the basis of the world has not yet been discovered. Similarly, in objective idealism, the assertion that God created the world remains an unsolved mystery, as no one can see God while they are alive, and it's unclear whether they will be able to do so after death.
Immaterialists argue that the world exists solely in our cognition, but this is not plausible since cognition ceases after death, and we cannot be sure whether true "awareness" persists beyond death.
On the other hand, the Buddhist concept of the world as empty or possessing Buddha nature can be realized during one's lifetime. To achieve this, two key methods are necessary: study and practice. By engaging in both, individuals can comprehend and embody the Buddha nature, making it a practical and attainable worldview.
By observing different worldviews, we can discern that they are composed of two aspects: appearance and essence, which in Buddhism are referred to as "the two truths." Appearance pertains to what we can observe and perceive, while essence is not accessible to our senses.
In materialism, appearance refers to the physical phenomena that we can see, hear, and touch. Scientists have been striving to uncover the essence of these phenomena for many years, with some suggesting it is the molecule, atom, energy, or field. None of these can be perceived with our naked senses, and instead, we must rely on devices to observe them or engage in analytical reasoning through logical thinking.
The concept of appearance and essence is not limited to materialism, but it also applies to Buddhism. In this context, appearance pertains to the state of human beings, which is referred to as relative truth. On the other hand, essence refers to the state of awakened ones, which is known as ultimate truth.
Excerpted from: Buddhist Worldview and Modern Life
