Abstract
Theories of mind-body relationship can be classified into two ideal types: a mind-body separate theory and a mind-body integrative one. The former asserts that mind exists separated from body, and the latter that mind and body must be integrated into one. In modern French thought, Henri Bergson's philosophy belongs to the former, and Gabriel Marcel's philosophy the latter. Bergson affirmed that through his philosophical investigation of this matter and studies of Christian mysticism as well as acoustic memories of words, mind was independent from body including brain, therefore life probably survived after death, whereas Marcel analyzed existence, that is, the fact of living here and now in terms of ‘incarnation’ and ‘itinerary,’ and attempted to elucidate human-beings inevitably united with body as homo viator making a journey looking up to Being as ‘promised land.’
We think it is possible to unify the mutual opposite theories mentioned above if we take ‘body as mind’ into account. Among the clues to find a solution is the transformation of prayer. It has, at least, two meanings. One is the transformation of prayer itself. As prayer gets deeper, Negai(wish) is being changed to Inori(proclamation of life). The other is the mind-body transformation through prayer. Such a consideration as this will be able to lead us beyond the mind-body dichotomy.
