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Eastern Approaches to a Unified Reality (Taoism (Dietary Restrictions…
Eastern Approaches to a Unified Reality
Buddhism
Meaning of Life
In Buddhism, the ultimate reality is to end all of one's moral suffering using the 4 Noble Truths
Truth 2. Suffeirng is caused by desired and atttcahement
Truth 3. Suffering can be stopped , by adhering strictly to the tenants of budhist and folliwng the noble eitghpath
Truth 4. following the Noble eightpath
Truth 1. All life is marked by suffering, and without life would cease to exist
The Noble Eightford path is the path in which leads to an end of moral suffering (Nirvana)
Right View (Knowing the truth)
Right Livelihood (work that respects and benefits yourself and your environment)
Right Effort (Resist evil)
Right Intention (Freeing your mind)
Right Concentration (practise meditation)
Right action (work for the good of others)
Right Mindfullness (Control your thoughts)
Right Speech (saying nothing that harms others)
There are 5 moral precpets to help keep buddhists towards teh Noble Eightpath
Refrain from the misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct
Refrain from wrong speech
Refrain fromtaking what is not given
Refrian from intoxicamts that cloud the mind
Refrain from taking life
Sacred Texts
Buddhism has three main sacred texts of buddhism, The Tripitaka The Muhayana Sutras , and the Tietan book of the dead being the most coveted.
Many other texts in Buddhism are largely unknown due to vast inabilities to translate them.
What is Self?
According to Buddhists, the self is created by three charcteristics of existence
Anicca (the impermanence of all beings)
Dukka (suffering)
Anatta (absence of self)
Buddhists also believe that idea of self is constantly evolving using the 5 skandas
Samjina ( perceptions)
Sankhara (mental activity, formation of thoughts)
Vendana (sensations, feelings , received from form)
Rupa (form; material image, impression)
Vijnana (consciouness)
Ultimate Reality
Buddjists belive that truth governs the world and pristique human life (dharrma) is achieved from the Noble Eightpath to enlightenment
Buddhists belive that Samsara (the endless cycle of life, death and rebiryth) happes until one is able to ascend to moksha (release of this cycle) and ultimately nirvana ( perfect peace and happiness of the soul)
Key Figures
The leader of the Tiebatn Guatama (historical buddha) Dalai Lama was a very influetial part of
Ashoka the Great , the Mauryan Indian Emperor in the 3rd century , begain buildimg buddhist monasteries , helping widespread buddhism
The mosyt important figure in Buddhism is the founder Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as Buddha
Afterlife
Buddhist belive that after life, we are rebron many tines to learn from our mistakes until we reach Nirvana
Reuncramation is determiend by the amount of good Kharma
Diet Restrictions
Most buddhist dont eat meatand most animal byproducts ,as it breaks the 2/5 of the Moral Precepts. The first being broken is to abstain from taking life, while teh second is abstaining from intoxicant that toxify teh body and mind. They also belive eating animlas would hinder thier rebirthing processs by giving them bad Kharma
Spirtuality
While there is no true overseeing god, many buddhists worship and priase Buddha, with many elaborates stayes of his embodiments in buddhist temples
There are many gods and dieties , however they are often reffered to in the 6 varying relams , that
have no impact on the human realm
In buddhism there is no large overseeing god like most reliogions, but Buddhists do belive that Brahman is the supreme being. Everything is connected to Brahman, and eeything comes from therew hwne we are bron and returns when we die.
Origins
Buddhism was founded in the 6th century in northeast India by Prince Siddharta Guatama
Common Symbols
Endless Knot
Wheel of Dharmna
The conch
Following
It is estimated that over 600 million people practice Buddhism worldwide
Taoism
Ultimate Reality
Taoists believe that all things are interdependent and inseparable parts of the Tao
The ultimate goal of Taoism is to become fully reunited with teh Tao and return to a state of natural harmony
What is Self?
Taiosists believ that the idea of self is actually a mianfestiation of the Tao, the universal force existing before everything, and where all things originate from
Taoists help return themselves to Tao by using a process calling " Keeping the One"
Chaos. One leaves behind the structure routines of thier life . They achieve free interactions with the totality of being , embracinng both aspects of yin and yang
The return. This stage combines the balances of stage 1 and the chaos of stage 2. They are able to becoem one with thier external surrounds and react to its actions in a pure natural way.
1- Eliminating all imbalances. Thye have overcome the tensions within themselves and are able to interact as an organic whole
Meaning of Life
According to Taoists, the menaing of life is to embrace the journey of life and aline themsleves with Tao thorugh Wu , which is allowing nature ot take its course withotu interferencve
There are 10 precepts in Taoism that help with reaching their fullest potential
Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct
I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin
Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil
When i see someone do a good deed, I will support them with joy and delight
Do not steal or recieve unrighteous thoughts
When i see someone unfortunate, I will support them with dignity to recover good fortune
Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts
When soemone comes to do me harm, I will not harbour thoughts of revenge
1.Do not kill but always be mindful of the hosyt of living einsg
As long as all beings have not attained the Dao , I will not expect myself to do so
Taosists also believe that they will find the true meaning ing of life by discovering and realizing thier prenotioned internal trutshs
Sacred Texts
The most important texts of Taosim is teh Tao-te ching. It is be belived to be written by Lao-tzu and is composed of 81 chpaters teaching religions, values, and beliefs.The first 37 chpaters are more focusded on Wang Bi centered ideas, where the remaining chpaters focus on De JIng.
Another pivotal work of literature is the Zhungzi , though not as widely priased and acknowledged as the Tao-te-Ching
Mind and Matter
The relationship between mind and matter have to be veyry closely intertwined as you must be able to open your mind to internal truths and the nature around you. You also must be able to use your body to apply and mainfest these realizations
one of the most effective ways to do this is martial arts, with a large taoism demographic practing Tai Chi
Important Figures
Zhuang Zhou aslos helped popularize and provide the fudamnetals of Taoism
Laozi or Lao Tzu is. aussmed ot have written the Tao-te-ching , the most comprehensive scripture of Taoism
Zhang Sanfeng craeted Tai Chi, one of the most pratuecd forms of spritual and physical coexistence
Dietary Restrictions
Traditional taoism teaches abstaining from alcohol, meat, beans and grains to easily ascend to teh Tao state
Scriptures also encourage vegetarianism to minimize harms , as all life forms are considered sentient
the levels of restricitons vary by individual needs and is up for personal interpretation
the modern taoism diet consists of low fat, high energy, vitamin and mineral enriched, easy for the body to digest, and the food shoulf unrefined and processed
Followers- It is estimated that 12 million people around the world practice Taoism
Spirituality
There are 16 gods in Toaist religion, and all 16 gods are either saints, immortals, or demi-gods
The most improtant of the 16 gods are known as the "Three Pure Ones" Theese three gods are Yu-ch'ing (Jade Pure), Shang-ch'ing (Upper Pure) and T'ai-ch'ing (Great Pure)
Taoists dont beluvce in gods the same way as most abrahmaic religions do as there is no oimnipotent being beyond the cosmos, a force who creates and controls the universe
The universe is created by the Tao and controls evrythig within the universe
Afterlife
Unlike other religions, Toaists belives that there is no reincarnation or rebirth , just constnat recycling of the five elements (wind,fire,wood,metal, water)
Taoists belive that we start from the Tao, and end with the Tao ,as it is what forms everything in the universe , and death is a nartual part of this constant cycle
Origins
Taoism orginted in China, 142 B.C.
Symbols
The main symbol of the toaism is the ying yang
Hinduism
Meaning of life
In Hinduism, the meaning of life is to reach moksha by liberating the soul and ending samsara (endless rebirth)
In the Hinduism belief , there are 4 aims of of life
Kama (to pursue lovenand intimiate pleasure to endure life and marriage)
Moksha (to lead out the soul to salvation with moral actions
Dharma ( make all of someone’s duties to evolve with compassiona dn withouthou jealousy, cruelty or greed
Artha( to earn power and wealth through and honest living and provide for ones family)
Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to ber loved , revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, non inju
Sacred Texts
In hinduism, there are four sacred texts, known as The Vedas, which translates to "Books of Kowledge". The Four Vedas define the triths for hindus and believe that these texts were recived by hods and passed down through genrations.
What is Self?
In Hinduism, Atman is the human soul and the inner part of ones self. It is part of Brahman, and is supposed to eventually retrun to Brahman
In Hinduism, the self is eternal, and it is matter of finding your true potential over many lifetimes, to ascend to nirvana
Mind and Matter
Hindu's strongly emphasize the importance of the connection between mind and matter. Mediatation is widely used in Hinduism as it cleanses the mind while working the body, connecting to thier Atman and with Braham
Ultimate Reality
In Hinduism, Braham is a supreme being and is considered the soul of the universe, as all things come from and where all things return after death
Hindus also believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution
Key figures
Since Hinduism has no real founder, the Indo-Aryan who migrated to theIndus valley in India, who blended thier culture and langue with the indigenous people
Mahatma Gandhi helped popularize Hinduism in India
Spirituality
In hinduism, there is an abundant 33 million gods that are worshipped by its large following. All of these gods are belibed to be the joint embodiemt of brahman, the supreme being of the universe
In Hinduism, Brahman (the supreme force) is also worhipped , as they beklouev he is embodied in everyones soul
In hinduism, there are three out of the33 million that eveyrone worships, known as the Hindu Triumvirate or Trimurti. This isamde of Brahma ( the god who creates the world and all its creatures), Vishnu ( preserver of the universe) and Shiva ( destroys the universe so it can be continuously recreated)
Following
It is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide practice hindusim, making it one of the most well known philosophies and religions
Origins
Most schloars beive that Hinduism started soemwhere between 2300 and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley (modern day Pakistan), making it the oldest religions in the world.
Diet restrictions
Hindus dont eat any meat and eggs as it harms other life forms that could be used in rebirths. Vegetarianism is considered satvic, and purifies the mind and body
Afterlife
In hinduism, rebirth is a required part of thier practice as Samsara (endless rebrith cycles) happen until moksha(freedom of the soul) is reached and nirvana and (perfect happines an harmony) and reconnection with braham is reached
Symbols
The maim symbols of hinduism is the Aum and the Swatstika
Confucianism
Meaning of Life
In Confucianism, the meniang of life is to help seekers gain enlightenment through forgotten nobility and virtue
Life to confucianists is also about miantiang harmony and success within your given social contacts. One muts fulfill their proper societal role by being polite, honest and kind.
Confucianists try and see Juzi ( perfect vitue embodiemnt of a human) fully expressed with themselves
Sacred Texts
In Confucianism , there are 4 sacred texts known as the Four Books. They consist of The Great Learning, The Analects of Confucius , the Book of Mencius and The Doctrine of the Mean
Analects is usllay the most revered out of the Four Books, as it is written by the second generation of Confucius' students
What is Self?
To Confucianists, the dea of self is closely related to the idea that one must seek out lifes values to learn your place of the world
In Confucianism,everyone is born with 4 beginnings to help you relaize your true purpose and potiential
Li (propriety)
Chih (wisdom)
Jen (compassion)
Yi (righteousness)
In Confucianism, self can be identified thorugh the 5 Virtues
Zhi (wisdom)
Li (propriety)
Yi (justice)
Xin (honesty)
Ren (kindness)
Mind and Matter
In Confucianism, one must be able to mentally comprehend the 5 virtues, to pjy scally express them, to bring them closer to become a human virtue. The immediate physical world is the medium that can be achieved by highly virtuous souls
Ultimate reality
Confucianists believe that all entities and processes are part of united natural cosmos m. Humans are linked to everything, and can deepen kinship and harness spiritual power by realizing cosmic being with themselves
Moral law is ultimate principles, universal principles found eternally
Key figures
Confucius created the Confucianism beliefs and later taught a group of disciples who portrayed his beliefs and devloped their own philosophies
Mencius played a crucial role in Confucianism as he taugt variuous noblemen and ruler the Confucianism ways and hlep widespread the beliefs
Emperor Wudi institutionalized Confucianism to help promote the philosophy to all of China
Sprituality
Confucianists don't believe in a good or worship confucius as a god, but also believe in the Tao
While they dont belive in gods, they do believe that humans virtues ascend to an above-earthly state
Afterlife
Confucianists believe that our souls to continue living after our physical body dies, but believe the answer will never be known as humans understand too little of the concept.
Origins
Confucianism was founded in China in 551-449 B.C. , and later spread to Taiwan , Vietnam and Korea
Diet Restrictions
There is no diet restricitons in Confucianism, though early texts encourage no real diet restrictions, but the recommend eating locally, being knowledgeable about food sources and eat with the seasons to help maintain a long lasting healthy life
Followers
There are estimated to be about 6 million Confucian symbols
Symbols
The main symbols are the ying yang, the chinese charcter for water, and the chinese character for scholar