The Perfectibility of Human Naturein Eastern and Western Thought
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loginHow perfectible is human nature as understood in Eastern* and West-ern philosophy, psychology, and religion? For me this question goesback to early childhood experiences. I remember one day as a youngchild of perhaps five or six years being sent to my room by my motherfor an afternoon nap. Lying there in silence, my mind was suddenlyoverwhelmed with questions: “Why am I here?” “What is the meaningof it all?” Questions like these imply a goal or purpose that each of ushas to achieve. Later, as a young man being brought up in the Chris-tian tradition, I resonated strongly with Paul when he cried out inRomans 7: “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing Ihate. . . . Wretched man that I am. Who will rescue me from thisbody of death?” It is these or similar questions that poets, philoso-phers, psychologists, and the world’s spiritual traditions have soughtto answer.
