Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil, Hurt and Harm

by Ross Thompson

Overview

Most of us have lived through painful, humiliating or traumatic experiences, leaving us haunted and conditioned by reactions that trap us in ongoing cycles of feeling hurt and hurting others. And on the wider political scale, we have obviously yet to learn the art of responding well to the hurts of terrorism, exploitation, or more local conflicts of interest. Either we resort to reciprocal violence, or claim too readily the status of innocent victim. The book begins by looking at three predominant negative responses. It then draws on a variety of traditions from the author’s own Buddhist Christian perspective, exploring how deep meditation can help take us beyond the negative narratives of hurt. The author finds ambivalent but broadly positive images in childhood innocence and the tragicomic fool, and urges the importance of a radical and unconditional forgiveness of self and others that is grounded in both Buddhist Emptiness and the risen Christ. By these means, the habit of accusation that so easily dominates self and society can give way to humour and mutual wonder.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781846945977
Publisher:	Collective Ink
Publication date:	09/16/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Acknowledgements 12

Part 1 Hurt, Harm and Evil: How Do They Arise? 13

Chapter 1 'You Hurt Me': Blame 15

Chapter 2 'I Hurt Myself: Shame 34

Chapter 3 'I Avoid Hurt: Disclaim 65

Chapter 4 Hurt Written in Stone: Evil as Real 89

Chapter 5 Hurt Spun Out of Nothing: Evil as Negation 119

Part 2 How Can We Respond Well? Towards a Wily Innocence 158

Chapter 6 Responsibility without Blame: Tragedy and Comedy 170

Chapter 7 Solidarity beyond Shame: Remorse and Forgiveness 206

Chapter 8 Reclaiming the Real: Mindfulness and Prayer 238

Chapter 9 Birthpangs of Light: An End to Harm? 267

Chapter 10 Responding to Evil: A Buddhist-Christian Ninefold Way 303

Bibliography 330

Index 340