Philosophize This! Episode #217: Religion and Nothingness - Kyoto School pt. 2 - Nishitani
Release Date: December 6, 2024
Host: Stephen West
1. Introduction and Audience Feedback
In the opening segment [00:00], Stephen West addresses the listeners' varied responses to previous episodes, particularly focusing on Keiji Nishitani's philosophy. He acknowledges two primary reactions:
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Profound Transformation: Listeners experiencing deep shifts in their understanding of existence through Nishitani's ideas.
"The episode led them to a pretty deep shift in the ways they're thinking about things, that Keiji Nishitani is opening them up to a whole new interesting way of exploring what it is to exist." [02:15]
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Confusion and Complexity: Some listeners find Nishitani's perspectives challenging to grasp, despite appreciating the content.
"It's such a different way of thinking that it's difficult to wrap my mind around what's truly being said here." [02:30]
Stephen emphasizes the importance of following the podcast in chronological order to fully comprehend the complex philosophical discussions ahead.
2. Understanding Nishitani's Perspective on Religion
Stephen delves into Nishitani's interpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche's infamous statement, "God is dead." Contrary to common Western interpretations that view this as a dismissal of religion, Nishitani perceives it as a precursor to a potential resurgence of meaningful religious participation.
"Through the eyes of someone like Keiji Nishitani, 'God is dead' is not an anti-religious statement at all. In fact, it's actually a foreshadowing to what you could call a golden age of religious participation that may come about in the near future." [05:45]
3. Critique of Western Utilitarian Definitions of Religion
Stephen critiques the Western tendency to define religion based on its utility:
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Atheist Perspective: Religion as a sociological construct serving as a security blanket or a tool for control.
"Religion is mostly just a security blanket for people, that religion is... to give people easy answers to difficult questions in a complicated universe." [10:20]
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Believer’s Perspective: Religion as a path to personal salvation and moral guidance.
"For me, religion is the path to personal salvation. I believe in the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth... I earn admittance into the kingdom of heaven." [12:10]
Nishitani argues that these definitions are incomplete as they focus solely on the utilitarian functions of religion, neglecting its deeper, transformative potential.
"These definitions... are incomplete when you're Nishitani. Truly, religion is something that can only be known in the subjective experience of the person that is immersed in a religious quest." [18:50]
4. Three Experiential Fields of Awareness: Consciousness, Nihility, Shunyata
Nishitani introduces three existential standpoints essential for an authentic religious quest:
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Consciousness [25:30]:
- The dominant field where individuals operate with a dualistic, utilitarian mindset.
- Characterized by the projection of the self onto the world, seeking control and utility.
"Consciousness is the field of awareness where we create these elaborate theories about how subjects relate to objects for the sake of utility." [26:10]
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Nihility [40:00]:
- Represents the confrontation with the meaningless or the lack of inherent purpose in life.
- Acts as a catalyst, pushing individuals to question their existence and the foundations of meaning.
"Nihility refers to that which renders meaningless the meaning of life when we become a question to ourselves." [42:25]
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Shunyata [50:45]:
- The realization of the emptiness and interconnectedness of all things.
- Moves beyond both reifying and nullifying the self, fostering a compassionate and interconnected existence.
"Shunyata is always there as a part of our existence. It's just usually there are things in the way of our ability to see it." [52:10]
5. The Process of Religious Quest According to Nishitani
Stephen outlines Nishitani's vision of a religious quest as a transformative journey through these three fields:
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From Consciousness to Nihility:
- Recognizing the limitations and illusions of the dualistic, utilitarian worldview.
- Encountering existential crises that force a deeper engagement with nihilistic questions.
"When you stop framing religion and the world around you in terms of what use does this serve to me? And start framing it in terms of for what purpose do I exist... that shift is critical." [30:15]
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From Nihility to Shunyata:
- Embracing the emptiness and interdependence of all existence.
- Moving beyond self-centric perspectives to understand one's role within the vast network of being.
"When your experience is more opened like this and you start seeing the emptiness of things on their own home ground, you just see the relationships that exist between things at a depth that is so different." [1:02:30]
This journey signifies not the dissolution of self but the transformation and liberation from the illusion of separation.
6. Practical Examples and Implications
Stephen provides tangible examples to illustrate Nishitani's concepts:
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Simone Weil's Concept of Attention [1:05:20]:
- Engaging with others without projecting one's ego.
- Becoming an "antenna for the universe" and facilitating deeper connections.
"You become more like an antenna for the universe to express itself through you... part of a larger network." [1:07:45]
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Everyday Applications:
- Viewing personal flaws as interconnected aspects of a larger existence rather than mere imperfections.
- Shifting focus from self-improvement for vanity to understanding one's role in the ecosystem.
"The wrinkles on your skin... are evidence that time has gone by. Time that connects you to everything that makes you what you are." [1:15:30]
These examples demonstrate how adopting Nishitani's framework can lead to profound personal and societal transformations.
7. Conclusion: God is Dead and the Future of Religion
Stephen wraps up by reconciling Nietzsche's "God is dead" with Nishitani's philosophy:
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Nietzsche's Prediction: The decline of traditional religious and moral frameworks leading to existential crises.
"Their starting point will be an existential crisis needing to confront nihilism." [1:25:10]
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Nishitani's Response: Such crises are opportunities for deeper engagement with existence, paving the way for a renewed, meaningful religious participation.
"The person that thinks they need religion the least is actually probably the person that could benefit from religion the most." [1:28:55]
Stephen encourages listeners to look beyond superficial interpretations of religion and explore its potential for genuine existential and spiritual transformation.
Notable Quotes:
- "God is dead... through the eyes of someone like Keiji Nishitani is not an anti religious statement at all." [05:45]
- "Consciousness is the field of awareness where we create these elaborate theories about how subjects relate to objects for the sake of utility." [26:10]
- "Shunyata is always there as a part of our Existence. It's just usually there are things in the way of our ability to see it." [52:10]
- "When you stop framing religion and the world around you in terms of what use does this serve to me? And start framing it in terms of for what purpose do I exist... that shift is critical." [30:15]
- "The wrinkles on your skin... are evidence that time has gone by. Time that connects you to everything that makes you what you are." [1:15:30]
- "When your experience is more opened like this and you start seeing the emptiness of things on their own home ground, you just see the relationships that exist between things at a depth that is so different." [1:02:30]
- "The person that thinks they need religion the least is actually probably the person that could benefit from religion the most." [1:28:55]
Final Thoughts
Episode #217 offers a profound exploration of Keiji Nishitani's philosophy, challenging conventional Western interpretations of religion and encouraging listeners to embark on a transformative quest beyond dualistic thinking. By engaging deeply with concepts like consciousness, nihility, and shunyata, Stephen West facilitates a journey towards authentic self-realization and a more interconnected existence.
If you found this summary insightful, consider following Philosophize This! for more in-depth explorations of philosophical ideas.