The Therapeutic Value of Buddhist Philosophy to the Predicament of Modernity

Facing problems and awkward predicaments of modernity, there are philosophical reflections and criticisms as well in the tradition of Buddhist thoughts. To the dilemma of Western modernity, Buddhism advances a series of critical solutions based on its own “rationality”. Their core is to reveal that the so-called Western “modern ego” is only an illusion and the modern Western rationality itself should be “disenchanted” as well, thus realizing a kind of true ego and freedom and presenting a meaningful world. The dialogue between Buddhism and modernity presents a confronting tension. On the one hand those Buddhist thinkers are attracted by the Western enlightenment movement that achieved a number of accomplishments in science and democracy; on the other, some of them are much concerned about the crisis and illusion of modernity. It is such a conflict or tension that may be helpful to build a kind of modernity based on Chinese own traditions and to solve problems on modernity confronted by modern people.