Eastern Approaches to a Unified Reality

Eastern Approaches to a Unified Reality

1. Hinduism

   • Ultimate Nature of reality
     • Brahman, supreme being, soul of the universe
       • where everything comes from and where everything goes after death
         • Has no form and everyone pictures them as they choose
           • All gods and goddesses are part of brahman
   • Relationship between mind and matter
     • believe yoga connects mind and matter
       • work with their bodies while clearing their mind and reaching peace and connecting to their Atman
   • What is Self?
     • Atman, "eternal self"
       • refers to "real self" beyond ego
         • referred to as the 'spirit' or 'soul'
           • indicates our true self or essence that underlies existence
   • meaning of life
     • Four goals that shape your karma and samsara
       • Ultimate goal is to reach moksha or enlightenment
       • Four goals: Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha

2. Buddhism

   • Ultimate Nature of reality
     • The Four Noble Truths
       • 1. Suffering Exists
         • 2. The origin of suffering (negative desire)
           • 3. Extinction of suffering through nirvana
             • 4. Path leading to the extinction of suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path
   • Relationship between mind and matter
     • The relationship is seen in the 3 stages of reaching Nirvana
       • 1. Meditation
       • 2. further ending of emotional, physical and mental activity
       • 3. being detached from the real world, beginning of nirvana
   • What is self?
     • Many ways to find one's self
       • The Noble Eightfold path
         • a way to a happier life and to self improvement
       • The Five Percepts
         • 1. Do not kill 2. Do not steal 3. Do not lie 4. Do not be unchaste 5. Do not take drugs or drink intoxicants
       • The Six Perfections
         • Giving, Mortality, Patience, Vigor, Meditation, Wisdom
   • meaning of life
     • to understand suffering and how it exists
       • want to reach enlightenment and nirvana to end their reincarnation

3. Confucianism

   • meaning of life
     • to transform themselves into a living example of virtue
   • The nature of ultimate reality
     • They want to live their lives serving heaven
     • ultimate goal: always be ethical, follow the Five Virtues, find balance in all aspects of life
   • Relationship between mind and matter
     • have to have the mind to follow the virtues and then be able to carry them out physically
   • What is self?
     • to fully become one's self, Confucians follow the Way of Heaven and the Five Virtues to become guardians of heaven's creations
       • Five Virtues: Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, Xin

4. Taoism

   • meaning of life
     • the meaning of life is to embrace the journey of life
   • ultimate nature of reality
     • Taoists 'go with the flow'
       • accept things the way they are and don't try to change things
     • Taoist's ultimate reality is to be completely balanced living a world of chaos
   • Relationship between mind and matter
     • Taoists believe that you must open your mind to your surroundings so you can become a full part of the physical world
   • what is self?
     • Stage One - Engaging Yang Qi With Intention & Effort - Bring energies together to get rid of imbalances
       • Qi is life-force, which animates the forms of the world
     • Taoists find themselves through 'Keeping The One'
       • Stage Two - Nourishing Yin Qi With Receptivity & Surrender - We let go of structured methods, in order to reach a more intelligent state of being, a deeper order which is initially experienced as chaos
       • Stage Three - The Return - Yin & Yang In Union - The “individual self” of the practitioner and the “world” in which s/he moves are now in effortless, joyful union -- and both are known as Tao.

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