Eastern Approaches to a Unified Reality
Hinduism 
Buddhism 
Taoism 
Confucianism 
Meaning of Life
What is the Self?
Meaning of Life
Relationship Between Mind and Matter
Key Figure(s)
What is the Self?
What is the Self?
Meaning of Life
Relationship Between Mind and Matter
What is the Self?
Meaning of Life
Relationship Between Mind and Matter
Relationship Between Mind and Matter
Key Figure(s)
Key Figure(s)
Key Figure(s)
The Confucianist goal is to become one with its virtues. This makes the relationship between mind and matter vital and one must be able to understand and physically practice those virtues prior to becoming one with the virtue.
Confucianists identify their sense of self through the Five Virtues. The Five Virtues include Rén which is kindness, Yì which is justice, Lǐ which is propriety, Zhì which is wisdom, Xìn which is honesty. Confucianist's main goals are to become a human virtue. By practising these virtues one gets closer to reaching their sense of self.
Confucius taught the life can only be lived through the human experience. The meaning of life extends to maintaining harmony and success within given social contexts. As these values are maintained one must fulfil their role in society by being polite, honest, and kind.
The most important figures to Confucianism are Confucius as he founded the faith of Confucianism. His discoveries were later developed by two fellow Chinese philosophers known as Mencius and Xunzi.
Background
Confucianism was founded by the Master Kong who was later known as Confucius. Confucianism was founded in 551-479 BC. Confucianism began is China but later spread throughout East Asia in countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, and Korea.
Hindus believe in reincarnation and cycle of lives also known as samsara. They believe that the being one is reincarnated into is dependent on their karma which is the good and bad deeds one has done. Hindus belief in reincarnation is not limited to humans. They believe that if an individual has committed more bad deeds in comparison to good deeds that then they will be reincarnated into something on the bottom of the hypothetical food chain like, a fly. If an individual committed more good deeds in comparison to bad deeds then they will be reincarnated into something of high authority such as a God. The ultimate goal is to achieve moksha. Moksha is the end of the death and rebirth cycle (reincarnation).
Background
The oldest religion is known to be Hinduism. Hinduism does not have a singular founder rather, Hinduism grew out from Indian culture into a religion. Hinduism began in 2300-1500 BC in the well known Indus Valley. Hinduism did begin in India but later spread to more countries in South Asia and Southern Africa such as Nepal and Mauritius.
The Atman which translates directly from Sanskrit to self or breath. In Hinduism, the Atman exists in the universe and is the soul. When a being dies it's soul or atman still exists in the universe and travels to the next life form the being is reincarnated into. The Atman is essential for the being's organs and body to function.
Hindus believe in three main entities they are Brahman the creator, Vishnu the preserver (part of the Brahman), and Shiva the destroyer (also part of the Brahman). Brahman is the one true God of Hinduism. Hindus believe that part of the Brahman is prevalent in everyone's Atman (soul). Hindus take the steps to find Brahman within themselves through practices such as yoga, praying, and meditation.
Hindu's philosophy on the meaning of life relies on a few major ideologies. The first ideology is called Dharma which means cosmic law and order. Dharma focuses on the act of being moral, ethical, and virtuous. An example of having Dharma would be, being against the death penalty as it is viewed as unethical to forcefully kill someone. The next ideology is called Artha directly translates to goal or purpose from Sanskrit. Having Artha means to achieve ethical and moral wealth. Artha could mean achieving wealth in money, happiness, or success. The Kama is another ideology which simply means the enjoyment of life. The last and most important meaning of life is Moksha. Moksha is the end of reincarnation and the beginning of ultimate enlightenment.
Taoists have a very close relationship with mind and matter. This is because Taoists believe that the soul rests upon our physical body. If the physical body is harmed or not well kept then, the physical body will suffer the repercussions of the ill soul. Taoist can maintain a healthy relationship between the mind and the physical body through practices such as martial arts as the practice involves uniting the mind and the physical body to master.
Background
Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu was the founder of religion and philosophy of Taoism also known as Daoism. Taoism was founded in 142 C.E. Taoism originated in the East Asian country of China.
The self is identified through the process of The Return which is led through the process of Keeping the One. This process aids to Taoists building the connection of the cosmos and one's self. The first step of this process is to bring all the energies together to become one. This can be done through meditation or even martial arts as the mind is synchronized with the breath, that is synchronized with the body. This step is essential to eliminate any tensions. The next step is to involve chaos in that meditation or martial arts. This step is essential to learn how to operate in chaos so that one can still obtain freedom in a state of chaos. An example of involving chaos is meditating in a noisy room. If one is able to meditate in that noisy room, they are one step closer to achieving the self. The final step is The Return. This step is a combination of steps one and two as one should now be able to achieve freedom and a sense of self no matter their surroundings.
Taoists find the meaning of life prevalent in the journey of life itself. The Taoist philosophy of the meaning of life is very similar to the idea of the power of now. This means Taoists live every moment to the fullest and live in the present rather than the past or the future. The meaning of life to Taoists in to find harmony in life in every way possible.
The founder of Taoism, Lao-Tzu and fellow Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu are the two main figures for the Taoist faith. Both philosophers dedicated their lives to constructing the Tao faith by balancing their inner spirits.
The relationship between mind and matter is very important to Buddhists as that is what is going to lead them to the steps of achieving full enlightenment, nirvana. To achieve nirvana one must understand the Four Noble Truths. One must understand all aspects of suffering prior to nirvana becoming attained. Buddha experienced the Four Noble Truths when he saw an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and then a holy man. The relationship between mind and matter can be strengthened through the practice of yoga as it unites the mind, spirit, and body.
Background
Siddhartha Gautama or The Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. Gautama began his life practising Hinduism but later founded his own faith that has millions of followers to this day. Buddhism was founded in late 6th-century B.C.E. Buddism originates majorly in India and Nepal but later spread to Southeast Asia and Russia.
Some key concepts to identifying the sense of self through Buddhism are The Five Percepts and The Noble Eightfold Path. The Five Percepts involve not killing, not stealing, not lying, not participating in sexual misconduct, and not utilizing alcohol or drugs. The Noble Eightfold Path includes right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
The Buddha taught his followers that the meaning of life is to understand the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are Dukkha which is the truth of suffering, Samudāya which is the truth of the origin of suffering, Nirodha which is the truth of the end of suffering, and finally Magga the truth of the path to ending suffering. The ultimate meaning of life comes after the understanding of the Four Noble Truths and that is to achieve ultimate enlightenment, nirvana.
The most important figures in Buddhism is The Buddha himself and the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was known as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism. There have been fourteen Dalai Lamas. The current Dalai Lama is Lhamo Dondrub.
