Zen and the Good Life

Abstract

This paper applies a Chan Buddhist way of life to a truly subjective desire-satisfaction view (SDS) to find a way between subjectivism and objectivism about wellbeing. Subjectivists have metaphysical and epistemological worries about objective value, while objectivists do not think that immoralists have a good life so long as they feel or judge themselves to be happy (subjective wellbeing). SDS is a desire satisfaction (DS) view that reliably connects DS to subjective wellbeing. The first noble truth of Buddhism poses a problem for SDS because it causally connects DS to suffering. I explain how Chan?s non-abiding mind, which is essentially a spontaneous state without volitions, prevents said suffering. However, it may not be possible to will non-volition. Because of this paradox of spontaneity, we need Hongzhou Chan?s Ordinary-Mind-is-the-Way, and/or the habitual practice of impartial benevolence, to be an expedient means to the non-abiding mind, and hence wellbeing per se.