Midterms Notes for Understanding The Self
doctrine of Hinduism.
Lesson 4: WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPT
OF THESELF
Wester Thoughts
• It conducts scientific investigations to
understand the self and developed
theories and difference among them.
• it emphasizes the importance of
scientific methods of investigation to
provide satisfactory answers to
understanding the self.
• They focus on individual
Eastern Thoughts
• It raises questions about the ultimate
meaning of human life
• They have developed theories of self as
they have investigated what it means to
be a human being
• It emphasis relational rather than
individual, relationship with other
people.
• They to not utilize the scientific
techniques of investigation
Buddhism – comes from the root word “budh”
Meaning awake. For you to understand,
you need to be awake. Siddharta
“Buddha” Gautama is the founder of
Buddhism. According to Buddha, all of
people has seed of enlightenment.
• They believe that nothing is permanent,
but change.
• There is no self (or soul)
• There is only nothing and all else is an
illusion
• “annica” literally means impermanence
means that everything in life is always
changing, that nothing last forever.
• Nirvana is the heaven for Buddhist –
This state of transcendence can be
achieved through meditation.
5 parts that compose the individual
(Buddhism)
1. Matter
2. Sensation
3. Perception
4. Mental Constructs
5. Consciousness
Hinduism – The religion of ancient people
known as the Aryans (The oldest religion in the
world)
Law of “Karma” is the most important
• They believe that there is good karma
and bad karma in life.
• Hindus believe that Atman being an
immortal continues to be reincarnated
from lifetime to lifetime until it is freed
from the cycle of rebirth and reach a
state of nirvana or non-birth.
• Atman – the soul of spirit.
• Reincarnation – born to another body.
Confucianism - a philosophy and belief system
from ancient China. Confucius is the founder of
this religion.
• Confucius – “Do not do others what you
would not want others to do you.” –
Wag mong gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong
gawin nila sayo
• Another important feature in Confucian
thought is the individual’s greatest
mission of attaining self-realization
where in self- cultivation is
instrumental.
• Based on Confucian thought, moral
character is perfected through
continously taking every opportunity to
improve oneself in thought and action –
Wag puro salita dapat meron din gawa.
Taoism – an ancient tradition of philosophy and
religious belief attributed to Lao Tzu – founder
of this religion.
• Taoism believes that the self is an
extension of the cosmos, not of social
relationships.
• They describe the self as one of the
limitless forms of the Tao.
• The Tao is commonly regarded as a
nature that is the foundation of all that
exist.
• The perfect man has no self and selfless
person leads to a balanced life, in
harmony with nature
• There should be unity and harmony,
among opposing elements: the Yin and
Yang.
Lesson 5: The Physical Self and Sexual Self
Physical Self – refers to the body that includes
basic parts such as head, neck, arms, and legs
• Physical efficiency generally peaks in
early adulthood and declines into the
middle age.
• Physical development and growth
during childhood continues at a slow
 rate compared with rapid rate of
growth in babyhood.
• One of the most crucial stages of
development is the adolescence stage.
Diseases Associated with the Reproductive
System
In Females
• Vaginal infections are more common in
young and elderly women and in those
whose resistance to diseases is low.
• Tumors of the breast and cervix are the
most common reproductive cancers in
adult females
In Males
• Common inflammatory conditions are
prostatitis, urethritis, and epididymitis,
all of which may follow sexual contacts
in which sexually transmitted disease
(STD) microorganisms are transmitted.
• Prostate cancer (a common sequel to
prostatic hypertrophy) is a widespread
problem in adult males.
Erogenous Zones - They refer to parts of the
body that are primarily receptive and increase
sexual arousal when touched in a sexual
manner.
Human Sexual Behavior - There are two major
factors that determine human sexual behavior:
the inherited sexual response patterns that
have evolved as a means of ensuring
reproduction, and the degree of restraint or
other types of influence exerted on the
individual by society in the expression of his/her
sexuality.
Types of Behavior
1. Solitary Behavior - Self-gratification
means self-stimulation that leads to
sexual arousal and generally, sexual
climax; most self-gratification takes
place in private as an end in itself.
2. Sociosexual Behavior - Heterosexual
behavior is the greatest amount of
sociosexual behavior that occurs
between only one male and one female.
Physiology of Human Sexual Response
1. Excitement phase - There is increase in
pulse and blood pressure, and skin
temperature.
2. Plateau phase - It is generally of brief
duration. If stimulation is continued,
orgasm usually occurs.
3. Sexual climax - It is marked by a feeling
of abrupt, intense pleasure.
4. Resolution phase - It is the last stage
that refers to the return to a normal or
subnormal physiologic state.
Nervous System Factors - The lower spinal cord
leads to erection and ejaculation for male, and
vaginal discharges and lubrication for female
when the genital and perineal areas are
stimulated.
Sexual Problems - Ejaculatory impotence, which
results from the inability to ejaculate in coitus,
is uncommon and is usually of psychogenic
origin.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
1. Chlamydia
2. Gonorrhea
3. Syphilis
4. Chancroid
5. Human Papillomavirus
6. Herpes Simplex Virus
7. Trichomonas Vaginalis
Lesson 6: Material Self
• Williams James – understanding the
self can be examined through its
different components: constituents,
self-feelings; self-seeking and self-
preservation.
• Body - The innermost part of our
material self. We are directly attached
to it and we can’t live without it.
• Clothes - Our clothes affect our attitude
and behavior. It is a form of self-
expression.
• Family - When an immediate family
member dies, a part of us dies too.
• Home - The home is an extension of our
self, we directly connect ourselves to it.
Lesson 7: The Supernatural: Believe It or Not!
• Religion - a belief in anthromorphic
supernatural being; such as spirit/gods
• Ritual - Performance of ceremonial acts
prescribed by a tradition or sacred law
Some World Religious Beliefs and Practices
1. Buddhism – Beliefs – Buddhism
believes that life is not a bed of roses.
Customs & Practices – Samatha &
Vipassana
2. Christianity – Beliefs - Christians believe
in Trinitarian God, one God in three
personas: God the Father (Creator), God
the Son (Savior), and God the Holy Spirit
(Sustainer).
 Customs and Practices - The Sacrament - Freedom to find meaning
of Baptism symbolizes the birth in
Christian World.
3. Islam – Beliefs - Islam means “willing Franklian Psychology aims to: 1. Become aware
submission to God.” Muslims believe in of spiritual resources; 2. Make conscious
spiritual resources; and 3. Use “defiant power
Allah, who is their “One God”, in the
of the human spirit” and stand up against
unity and universality of God, that
adversity.
Mohammed is the last and final prophet
sent by God. Logotherapy Assumptions - The human being is
Customs and Practices: Muslims an entity consisting of body, mind, and spirit.
believe in the five pillars of Islam, which
are the foundation of Muslim life: Frankl’s Sources of Meaning - Purposeful Work.
1. Shahadah – statement of faith: Each individual has his/her own future goal to
“There is no God but the one true God achieve or a task to perform; the meaning of
and Mohammed is his messenger. life is unique to every individual.
2. Salat – the prayer that is practiced
five times a day.
3. Zakat – the monetary offering for the
benefit of the poor. It comprises the
2.5% of a Muslim’s assets.
4. Hajj – the yearly pilgrimage to
Mecca. Muslims who can afford are
asked to do the pilgrimage at least once
in their lifetime.
5. Sawm – the fasting. Muslims do fast,
from food, drink, and sexual act, during
the celebration of Ramadan. Ramadan is
the ninth month of the Islamic lunar
calendar. The fast is from dawn to
sunset.
6. Eidul-Fitr is the celebration at the
end of Ramadan, while Eidul-Adha is
celebrated within the completion of the
Pilgrimage, the Hajj.

4. Judaism – Beliefs - The Jews believe in

the God of Abraham, in the coming of Messiah,
the Savior. The sacred scripture of the Jews is
called the Torah or the Law.

Customs and Practices: There are five major

festivals observed by the Jews:

1. Rosh Hashanah – the New Year

2. Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement

3. Pesach – Passover

4. Shavuot – Pentecost

5. Sukkot – Tabernacles
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray
Finding and Creating Meaning of Life about everything. Tell God what you need and
Logotherapy - A psychotherapy introduced thank him for all he has done. Then you will
by Dr. Viktor Frankl experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything
- It uses the philosophy of optimism in we can understand. His peace will guard your
the face of tragedy. hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
The Franklian Psychology has these basic Philippians 4:6,7
concepts:
- Life has meaning under all GOOD LUCK SA LAHAT 😊
circumstances.