Western-Eastern Thoughts PDF

Chapter 5: The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought Eastern Thoughts - Giving more value to social Concept of Self...

Chapter 5: The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought Eastern Thoughts - Giving more value to social Concept of Self responsibility and accepting the reality of life (fact) and interested in - There are a lot of sources in which we maintaining the balance of life. can analyze the perspective of each culture and country about the concept of the "self." Western Values Literature - like how one depicts a hero or - Westerners emphasize more on the villain in their stories in different countries, value of equality even if they see that like USA, China, Korea, etc. the individual can rise above everything else. Because everyone is on their own competition, one can say Socialization - like how they see their boss that they also promote ideals that or their subordinate. create "fair" competition and protect the individual. Artworks, Dances, Even Clothing - This - Ex: Westerners would most likely to thing may show us clues about the Self. call their bosses, parents, or other Cultural Diversity seniors by their first name. The boss can also be approached head-on - Put themselves first when conflicts or problems about him - Dedicated to independent thinking arises. and self-reliance - Distant to the feelings of others - Preserving, and success of the group is Western Self-Descriptions more important - Talk more about their personal - Paying attention to the needs and attributes when describing feelings of each member of the group themselves; - Sensitive with the feelings of the members of the group to each other Western Self-Evaluations Western Thoughts - They would highlight their personal achievements - They give higher value with their personal rights. - The western society is trying to find Western: Individualistic and prove the "truth." - Focus is on the person  - Talks more about their personal - The group and social relations are attributes when describing given more importance than individual themselves. needs and wants - Highlights their personal achievements. - Talk about their social roles or the - Looks at the world in dualities wherein social situations that invoked certain you are distinct from the other person, traits that they deem positive for their the creator is separate from the object selves. he created. - Keep a low profile as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that Eastern Values disrupts social relationships - Eastern with their collectivistic - Sees the other person as part of culture, put more emphasis on yourself as well as the things you may hierarchy as the culture wants to keep create, a drama in which everyone is things in harmony and order (Qingxue, interconnected with their specific 2003). roles. - Ex: For Asians, we have respectful terms for our seniors and a lot of workers would not dare go against the high-ranking officials. Western Vs. Eastern Philosophers Eastern Self-Descriptions Confucianism - In general, talks about their social - Also known as RUISM, is described as roles or the social situations that tradition, a philosophy, a humanistic invoked certain traits that they deem or rationalistic religion which was positive for their selves developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher CONFUCIUS Eastern Self-Evaluations (1551-479 BCE) who considered himself a re-codifier and re- - They would rather keep a low profile as transmitter of the theology and values promoting the self can be seen as inherited from the Shang and Zhou boastfulness that disrupts social dynasty. relationships - Focused on having a harmonious social life. Identity and self-concept of Eastern: Individualistic the individual are interwoven with the identity and status of his/her  community or culture, sharing its pride and egocentric ideas and thinking as well as its failures. about equality as well as complementarity among humans as - Subdued Self - personal needs are well as other beings. (Ho, 1995) The repressed (subdued) for the good of self is in harmony with everything. many, making Confucian society also hierarchical for the purpose of maintaining order and balance in The 3 Treasures or 3 Jewels - (3 ESSENTIAL society (Ho, 1995). ENERGIES SUSTAINING HUMAN LIFE): a. Jing -"essence" b. Qi -"energy” 3 Essential Core Values of Confucianism: c. Shen - "spirit" a. Filial Piety – respect for elders b. Humaneness – goodness c. Ritual – proper conduct Concept of Harmony - A central feature of Taoism is harmony between people and their 5 Basic Virtues of Confucianism: environment, Nature, or Tao. a. Ren – benevolence, humaneness - The Tao Chi (Yin-Yang diagram) is an b. Yi – righteous, justice example of the value of harmony with c. Li – proper, rite the environment. It is also applied to d. Zhi – knowledge the concept of health for energy e. Xin – Integrity (qi/chi), balance for disease prevention, healing, and the development of human potential. Taoism - Also known as Daoism. A Chinese Buddhism philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu (6th century BC) advocating - It is the world's 4th-largest religion, humility and religious piety. with over 520M followers or over 7% of the global population are Buddhists. It - Is living in the way of the TAO or the is an Indian religion. UNIVERSE. It is a simple lifestyle and its teachings. - All Buddhist traditions share the GOAL OF OVERCOMING SUFFERING AND - It aims to describe how to attain life. THE CYCLE OF DEATH & REBIRTH, The self is part of the universe. It is either by the attainment of Nirvana or living a balanced life with society and through the path of Buddhahood. nature, being open and accepting to change, forgetting about prejudices 3 Marks of Existence: a. Impermanence (anicca) - all things are in constant state of flux; nothing lasts, and everything decays, b. Suffering (dukkha) - all things are not experienced; everything is conditioned and conditioning. c. Non-Self (anatta) - denies that there is anything called a "SELF". - It is our quest to forget about the SELF, forget about the cravings of the self, break the attachments you have with the world, and to renounce the self which is the cause of all suffering and in doing so, attain the state of NIRVANA. - Gautama Buddha taught that all beings conditioned by causes (sankhara) are impermanent (anicca) and suffering (dukhha), and that not- self(anatta) characterizes all dhammas, meaning THERE IS NO "I", "ME" or "MINE" in either the conditioned or the unconditioned (i.e. nibbana). - Unsatisfactoriness and suffering exist and are universally experienced. Desire and attachment are the causes of unsatisfactoriness and suffering.