Tetsugaku no Michi
(Philosopher’s Path)
The science-art unity and mentality in Japanese culture
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This 2 km winding path connecting Ginkakuji Temple to Nanzenji Temple bears the name of Kitaro Nishida, a prominent philosopher and professor at Kyoto University in the early 20th century. It was on this very path that Nishida embarked on his daily morning walks, a ritual that nurtured his contemplative musings.
In the realm of Budo, the masters, honing their craft with tireless dedication, align seamlessly with this very notion. Through relentless practice, they attain a state of "Empty Mind", where mind and body converge in perfect unity, shedding all distinctions. It's a transcendent harmony, a dance of oneness.
With every refined skill, you nurture something more profound—your inner world. Your self-efficacy and self-esteem bloom, empowered by the very mastery you cultivate. It's a journey of self-discovery, a testament to the transformative power of dedication.
As you tread this path, let your thoughts wander through the corridors of philosophy and mentality. Each step holds the potential for profound insights, a dance between mind and body, self and world. It's a journey worth embarking on, an odyssey of self-discovery and unity.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS PLACE
In the realm of philosophy, there's a concept that shines brilliantly—Nishida's "Pure Experience". It beckons you to a realm where subject and object dissolve, leaving you with the pure essence of direct experience, untouched by the shadows of reflection.
Now, imagine a world where martial arts, the venerable Budo, serves as the canvas for this profound concept. The masters, their skills honed through unceasing, ritualistic practice, have unlocked the state of "Empty Mind." Here, mind and body meld into an inseparable unity, transcending the boundaries that once defined them. But it doesn't stop there. With each skill perfected, they embark on a journey of self-discovery. It's a path that can empower your psychology, nurturing the seeds of self-efficacy and self-esteem, turning you into the master of your destiny.
As you traverse this sacred path, don't merely walk—wander. Reflect on the intricate interplay of philosophy and mentality, for every step holds the promise of a profound revelation, a story of unity that begs to be explored.
Now, imagine a world where martial arts, the venerable Budo, serves as the canvas for this profound concept. The masters, their skills honed through unceasing, ritualistic practice, have unlocked the state of "Empty Mind." Here, mind and body meld into an inseparable unity, transcending the boundaries that once defined them. But it doesn't stop there. With each skill perfected, they embark on a journey of self-discovery. It's a path that can empower your psychology, nurturing the seeds of self-efficacy and self-esteem, turning you into the master of your destiny.
As you traverse this sacred path, don't merely walk—wander. Reflect on the intricate interplay of philosophy and mentality, for every step holds the promise of a profound revelation, a story of unity that begs to be explored.
SPECIAL TIPS
The philosophical thoughts based on Nishida’s concept of pure Experience are also associated with its mental health benefits and related neuroscientific research of the presenter.
In other words, the concept of Pure Experience can give the outcomes of neuroscientific studies an important interpretation with Mind-Body Unity. Pure experience is 'the fact of direct experience as it is, the primordial knowledge from which everything starts'. It can be said to be an experience of consciousness in a state of 'subject-object unity', where 'there is not an individual and there is an experience, but there is an experience and there is an individual'. From this point of view, the philosophical interpretation of body-mind unity is that when the mind and body correspond to the subject and the object respectively, the unity of the two is recognised.
In other words, the concept of Pure Experience can give the outcomes of neuroscientific studies an important interpretation with Mind-Body Unity. Pure experience is 'the fact of direct experience as it is, the primordial knowledge from which everything starts'. It can be said to be an experience of consciousness in a state of 'subject-object unity', where 'there is not an individual and there is an experience, but there is an experience and there is an individual'. From this point of view, the philosophical interpretation of body-mind unity is that when the mind and body correspond to the subject and the object respectively, the unity of the two is recognised.
