Buddhism, Hinduism, Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism The Philosophies of China

What is philosophy? System by which people live their lives Looking to be a good person Many Asian religions mix philosophy and religion What is YOUR personal life philosophy?

Buddhism The “middle way of wisdom and compassion”  A 2500 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout the Far East  A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 300 million people  Based on the teachings of the Buddha

The “Three Jewels” of Buddhism Buddha – the teacher Dharma – the teachings Sangha – the community

What did the Buddha teach? The Four Noble Truths: To live is to suffer The cause of suffering is self-centered desire & attachments The solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (“extinction”) The way to Nirvana is through the “Eight-Fold Path”

What is the Eight-Fold Path? Wisdom: Right understanding Right motivation Moral discipline: Right speech Right action Right livelihood Mental discipline: Right effort Right mindfulness Right meditation

What do Buddhist believe? Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma) Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind Achieving Nirvana means escape from the cycle of rebirth Suffering is a state of mind – achieve a balanced, peaceful, detached state of mind and suffering can be extinguished (Nirvana)

What is Hinduism? The oldest religions of humanity—est years ago The religion of the Indian people Gave birth to Buddhism Many deities but a single, impersonal Ultimate Reality (meaning they appear to be polytheistic, but are not!) No particular founder

Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Brahma, the creator god Vishnu, the preserver god Shiva, god of constructive destruction

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

What do Hindus believe?  Reincarnation – people are continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime  Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) aka what goes around comes around!  Practice yoga to achieve greatest mediation state  Hold all parts of life scared and therefore are vegetarians  Do not eat COWS because they are considered scared  Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class

Life of Confucius Born during the Zhou dynasty in 551 BCE During his lifetime, there was a lot of fighting among the nobles in the feudal system There was little peace and a lot of corruption in the government

Teachings of Confucius To reform corrupt governments Believed anyone could learn, not just the nobles Respect your elders Practice moral responsibility through rigid rules of behavior

“The superior man blames himself. It is the inferior man who blames others” “When a ruler behaves himself correctly, the people will also.”

Impact of Confucianism His teachings opened the minds of ancient Chinese : No longer were only nobles allowed to hold government positions Because of Confucius’ teachings, anyone who could pass an examination could carry out CIVIL SERVICE

1. Human nature is naturally selfish. 2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged. 3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality. 4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand. 5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

Legalism Established and enforced by Emperor Shi Huang Di (Emperor Qin) Only ruled for 11 years but was able to build the largest part of the GREAT WALL and the Terra Cotta Soldier Army

1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning. 2. Relying on the senses and instincts. 3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe. 4. Ignoring political and social laws. To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:

Masculine Active Light Warmth Strong Heaven; Sun Feminine Passive Darkness Cold Weak Earth; Moon

How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity?? Confucianism --> Moral order in society. Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order. Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.