Philosophical practices of acquiring existential openness: comparative analysis of eastern and western methods[Философские Практики Обретения Экзистенциальной Открытости: Компаративистский Анализ Восточных И Западных Методик]

The subject matter of the research is philosophical practices of existential openness helping to form trust for life which is necessary for full development of the personality. Loss of trust to life prevents a person from self-enrichment, narrows his life activity spheres, and disconnects his existence and thinking. Existential openness is an ability of a person to perceive, realize and interpret real events and personal concerns objectively and truthfully. Objective realizing is possible only when a person is free from stereotypes, stereotyped schemes, when a person overcomes disconnection between his existence and thinking. Acceptance of life is expressed in willingness to realize multitude of possibilities which are open in front of a person. The research is done on the basis of comparative analysis of eastern and western methods such as contemplative practices of Daoism, Buddhism and Zen Buddhism compared with the methods of existential philosophy, phenomenology and humanistic psychology. Contemplative practices encourage realizing openness, acceptance of the world and one’s existence in it. These practices help a person to overcome rational fragmentation of the world. Existential approach makes it possible to define the deep problems of individual existence connected with the awareness of unsupported thinking in the situation of life choice. Phenomenological approach contributes to finding out speculative, verbal and behavior stereotypes of the life world which do not make it possible for the phenomena to speak for themselves, on the assumption of their own unique importance. The root of the problem, as the author sees it, is in separateness of thinking and existence which is defined as a psychological disease of modern civilization, the main symptom of which is the desire to set up in the world, the desire to dominate over nature, other people and oneself. Human conscience is enslaved by disfigured idea of propers, often presupposing a set of social and cultural stereotypes of this or that historic period, but not philosophical desire to be authentic, open to the truth. The author describes philosophical practices which help to overcome separateness of thinking and existence being a barrier for objective and truthful perception of reality.