Skillful Means: The Heart of Buddhist Compassion (Monographs of the Society for Asian & Comparative Philosophy)

This title analyzes one of the most important ideas in Buddhist philosophy: the doctrine of "skillful means." It presents an analysis of a familiar subject, thus providing a way of understanding Buddhist thought. It argues that Buddhism is best understood as a philosophy of practice - or a "metapraxis" - and that terms such as "emptiness," "non-self," and "nirvana" refer less to metaphysical principles than to skillful teachings that help people cultivate compassion and mindfulness. Each section of the book focuses on a debate over philosophical justification and the problem of trying to establish a fixed doctrine in Buddhism and reveals an on-going debate that is central to the various Buddhist traditions throughout Asia.