Eastern Philosophy

and Religion
World Geography- Minich

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 Buddhism

What makes a
religion?

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Buddhism
Is Buddhism a
Religion?
-No notion of God
-No creator
-No afterlife

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 The Life of Gautama
•Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal between
624-560 BC. He was born into the Kshatriya warrior caste.
(p. 221)
Siddhartha led a pampered life, but the Four Passing
Sights ( an old man, a diseased man, a corpse, and a
mendicant), caught his attention and disturbed him.
Siddhartha discovered the Middle Way, the central
teaching of Buddhism. This way rejects both extremes of
sensual indulgence and asceticism.
Sidhartha Gautama
 The Dharma
Buddhism reacted against Hinduism in some respects:
philosophical speculation was rejected as was the institutional
form of Hinduism. Also, the teachings of Buddhism were
written available in an accessible language rather than solely
in Sanskrit.
Four Noble Truths
1.) Life involves suffering (samsara= rebirth).
2.) Suffering is caused by attachment and desire to material
possessions.
3.) Suffering can be eliminated by ending attachments and
desires. (Nirvana= blown out)
4.) By following the “Eightfold Noble Path.”
 Eightfold Path
4th Noble Truth:
1. Training in wisdom:
right views
right intentions
2. Training in practical life and ethics:
right speech
right action
right livelihood
3. Training in meditation:
right mindedness
right concentration 7
 Buddhism
Challenged Hindu Tradition
- Rejects caste rules
-Rejects worship of polytheistic gods and ritual
practices
Buddhism focuses on personal experience
Buddhism dies out in India as a result of the
Muslim invasions between 1000-1200.

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 Nirvana
Nirvana, according to
the Buddha- "This is the
peace, this is exquisite --
the resolution of all
fabrications, the
relinquishment of all
acquisitions, the ending
of craving; dispassion;
cessation; Nirvana."

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 Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.

Theravada Buddhism - centers around

monks, all others should work to provide for
priests in hopes of achieving that status in the
next life

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 Mahayana Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Found in East Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”
 Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but
the salvation of all humanity
-Zen: enlightenment through concentration and
meditation (popular in the US)
-Tibetan: (Lamaism) monastic faith, “Dalai
Lama” (p. 241), “Tibetan Buddhism”

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Kong Fuzi (551-479 BC)
“Master Philosopher
Kong”
Given name Confucius
by Catholic missionaries
Ethicalism
Social/Political Instability

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 Confucian Values
Ren: kindness and benevolence; sense of
humanity, seeking the welfare of other people
(inward)
Li: propriety, courtesy, doing the right thing at
the right time (outward)

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 Five Basic Relationships
1. Father (kindness) to son (filial piety)
• Filial Piety: support one’s parents, not bring
humiliation to one’s parents and ancestors,
glorify them
2. Elder brother (gentility) to younger brother
(respect)
3. Husband (righteous behavior) to wife
(obedience)
4. Elder (humane consideration) to junior
(deference)
5. Ruler (benevolence) to subject (loyalty)
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 Daoism
Dao- “the way,” become one with the
cosmos, with nature, with all things
Ying and Yang: balance is good, “proper
harmony”
Daoism has changed throughout the
centuries, increasing in mysticism and
superstition, increased knowledge of
metallurgy and astronomy
Lao Zi: “Old Sage,” Chinese philosopher and
founder, Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its
Power)
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