My essay, “Putting Away the Books: A Theravada Monk Reflects On Renunciation, Monasticism, and Liberal Values,” appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of Tricycle. You can find it on the Tricycle website here. In the essay, I explore themes mentioned under the headings “Enlightened Awakening” and “Renewing Monasticism” on my home page, in the context of my own training at a monastery in the Western branch of the Thai Wat Pah Pong forest tradition. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the essay below.
Hi, Bhikku Santi. As a layperson interested in Buddhist teachings, I found your essay quite insightful, and am seriously pondering over what you wrote. However, I found myself a bit confused when you say that “experience is theory-laden”. Does this mean that, on your view, there is no such thing as experience empty of all conceptual constructs? If so, how would this tie into the whole idea of perceiving how “empty” (lack of intrinsic essence) things are?
As far as I know, many Buddhists believe that, through “seeing reality as it is”, they can perceive emptiness and learn to let go. Would you modify the approach so as to make it compatible with this view, or just reject it wholeheartedly?
Thank you!