Phil Stanley, PhD

My current, primary area of research is focused on Buddhist psychology, particularly, on one hand, how we give rise to painful afflicted mental states that lead to harmful actions and painful consequences, and, on the other hand, how we can transform these afflicted mental states, actions, and consequences so that we experience a sense of well-being and develop skill in acting skillfully and beneficially with others. This research is based on Vasubandhu’s Treasury of Higher Knowledge ( Abhidharmako?a) and its Indian and Tibetan commentaries and the epistemological tradition of Dignaga and Dharmakirti.

The Buddhist tradition describes the deep connection between one’s affective mental states and one’s conceptual world view, and how one’s interpretive projections onto oneself and the world lead to such harmful results. Since such afflicted mental states and interpretive projections are actively entwined with prejudices and systems of oppression, my research contributes to an understanding of the interconnection between the personal afflicted level of experience and wider social systems of prejudice and oppression, while also providing methods of contemplative inquiry to work with and reverse these at the personal level, which can in turn contribute to changes on the societal level.

My most recent publication is an article called “Applied Buddhism: The Three Trainings and The Benefit of Integrating Wisdom (Prajñ?) with Mindfulness and Ethics in Secular Contexts” that is scheduled to be published this December 2022 in the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, number 17.