抄録
When we begin to speak about illness through the academic discipline of Buddhist Studies, what can we offer in response to the demands of contemporary society? As a premise for considering this question, it is essential to first examine how the concept of illness has been expressed in early sutras and the Abhidharma texts. Furthermore, from what perspectives have such discussions been conducted? This study seeks to clarify these foundational issues. By doing so, it aims to establish a groundwork for philosophical inquiry into illness through Buddhist Studies, in order to address the pressing concerns of contemporary society.
The young Gautama’s decision to renounce the world (new step as a śramaṇa) has been traditionally narrated in terms of his confrontation.
with the suffering of old age, sickness, and death. Moreover, the Buddha has been referred to as the “king of physicians,” who confronted such suffering. By analyzing selected passages from Buddhist texts, this paper first delineates the contours of Buddhist discourse on illness. It then explores the key considerations that must be kept in mind when engaging in philosophical reflection on the suffering associated with illness. Additionally, it examines the inherent crises that inevitably accompany such reflections. Building upon this analysis, the study will further consider the tension between two distinct attitudes: one that seeks to uphold Buddhist doctrine within the site of clinical practice, and another that reconstructs Buddhist thought in response to the challenges that emerge from the site of clinical practice itself.
https://ror.org/05b7rex33 
