Chapter 6: The Self in western and Oriental Thought

They are we all different and independent, or are all people part of one whole? In this
lesson, we'll examine what Eastern philosophy and religion, including Hinduism and
Buddhism, believe about the self.

The Nature of the Self

Norah has been watching the news and the way everyone is at each other's throats, and
though it's painful and sad to watch, she also thinks it's inevitable. After all, people are
all independent and very different from one another.

Her friend Charlie isn't so sure though. He believes that everyone is connected to each
other and to the world. To Charlie, we are all one, so no one should be fighting.

Norah and Charlie are thinking about the nature of the self. When philosophers talk
about the nature of the self, what they are really asking is: Are we separate from each
other and from the universe? In Western philosophy, people tend to think like Norah:
people are separate and unique from each other. What one person does or experiences
is completely independent of other people and the world at large.

However, in Eastern philosophy, the self is often treated as an illusion. That is, the idea
that people are separate entities from each other and the world is not considered a
reality in Eastern thought.

To Charlie, Eastern thought seems pretty clear, but Norah's still confused about it. How
can the self be an illusion? Does that mean she doesn't exist? To help Norah understand
better, let's look at two major religious traditions in Asia - Hinduism and Buddhism -
and how they view the self.

Hinduism

Norah has heard of Hinduism, a major religion with many branches common in south
Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka. But, she's not sure what Hindus believe, or what
their beliefs have to do with the self.

There are many different branches of Hinduism with varying beliefs, sort of like there are
many different branches of Christianity. But in all the branches of Hinduism, there are
two important concepts that will help Norah understand the Hindu view of the self: the
Brahman and the Atman.

The Brahman is essentially the sacred, the god spirit or the universe. In contrast,
the Atman is the human soul, or the self. So when Norah thinks about her soul as a
separate entity from others, she's thinking of her Atman.

Unlike Norah's belief that the soul is separate, Hinduism teaches that the Atman is
essentially part of the Brahman, or universe. To help Norah understand, Charlie tells her
to think about a single drop of water in a cloud way up in the sky. It comes down with
other drops in the form of rain and makes its way to a river where it blends with other
drops. Eventually, this single drop of water flows out to the ocean where it is
indistinguishable from other drops. Finally, it evaporates and makes its way to the
atmosphere, where it becomes part of a cloud again.

To the Hindus, this drop of water is the Atman, and the cycle that it goes through is kind
of like reincarnation, or the belief that people die and are reborn over and over again.
Each time a person dies and is reborn, it comes closer to the Brahman. Eventually, the
person will complete the cycle of reincarnation when they have developed enough.
When this happens, they stop being reborn and are fully reunited with the Brahman. It's
like the drop of water stopped collecting in a cloud, raining down and evaporating and
instead simply dissolved into everything: the air, the earth, and the water.

So, what does this have to do with the self? Norah's already figured out that Hindus
think very differently about the self than she does: they think in terms of centuries and
lifetimes, whereas she thinks about herself in terms of who she is today and tomorrow.
In Hinduism, the self, or the Atman, is just part of a larger whole, the Brahman, which
encompasses everything. The self, or the Atman, is tied to everything, or as one sacred
Hindu text says it, ''Thou are thou.''

Buddhism

Norah is starting to understand a little bit how the self can be thought of as part of the
universe. But there's still a self, right?

Charlie doesn't believe in the Atman; he doesn't believe that there's such a thing as a
self at all. That's because he's a Buddhist. Buddhism is a common Eastern religion and
philosophy where the self is often thought of as an illusion.

Buddhism- No Self. Our life is determined by the law of "cause and effect ".ie. our life is
determined by our actions. Everything is an illusion.
Advaita Vedanta-There is an eternal ultimate reality without any attributes which we
may call universal Self. We are that ! Everything else is an illusion including our universe.

Saivaism- We are Self.. but we can't exist independent of the ultimate reality,the
universal Self. Both are eternal, the difference is in degree. . Everything that exists is the
manifested expression of the universal Self but not of permanent existence. Law of
"cause and effect "influence our life.

Concept of rebirth and karma is accepted by all eastern religions..

Confucianism

Confucianism

"The identity and self-concept of an individual is interwoven with the identity and status
of his/her community or culture, sharing its prides as well as its failures."

Self-Cultivation is the ultimate purpose of life.

"Subdued Self"

Taoism

"The self is not just an extension of the family or the community; it is part of the
universe, one of the forms and manifestations of the Tao.

"Selflessness"

Western perspective

"The focus is always looking

towards the self"/Differences

Eastern And western

Eastern western

In contrast, the Western civilization is more individualistic, trying to find the meaning of
life here and now with self at the center as it is already given and part of the divine.
The Eastern philosophy is drawn much more into groups or society or people’s actions
and thoughts as one in order to find meaning in life as they try to get rid of the false
“me” concept and find meaning in discovering the true “me” in relation to everything
around them, or as part of a bigger scheme.

Lesson 1: individualistic vs. collective self

Individualist—

The individual identifies primarily with self, with the needs

of the individual being satisfied before those of the group.

Looking after and taking care of oneself, being self-sufficient,

guarantees the well-being of the group. Independence and

 self-reliance are greatly stressed and valued. In general,

 people tend to distance themselves psychologically and emotionally from each other.
One may choose to join groups, but group membership is not essential to one’s identity
or success. Individualist characteristics are often associated with men and people in
urban settings.

Collectivist—

One’s identity is, in large part, a function of one’s membership and role in a group, e.g.,
the family or work team. The survival and success of the group ensures the well-being of
the individual, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects
oneself. Harmony and the interdependence of group members are stressed and valued.
Group members are relatively close psychologically and emotionally, but distant toward
no group members. Collectivist characteristics are often associated with women and
people in rural settings.  

Individualism stresses individual goals and the rights of the individual person.
Collectivism focuses on group goals, what is best for the collective group, and personal
relationships.
An individualist is motivated by personal rewards and benefits. Individualist persons set
personal goals and objectives based on self.

Lesson 2: The social Construction of the Self In western Thought

This article sheds light on the importance of understanding the self within social and
cultural contexts. The self is the most important intervening factor to come between
phenomenal objects (other people, roles, and external things) and an individual's own
behavior and action. I ask questions about the individual and his or her role in the social
construction process, by comparing Eastern and Western ideas about the concept of
self. The most important commonality between Eastern and Western thought is an
emphasis on constructing the self in relationship with others and exploring the
dialectical relationships between self, culture, organization, and society. If our
understanding of organizational reality fails to grapple with the dynamic nature of the
self, organizations will remain more of a management's interest in explaining and
controlling human behavior than in understanding human experience and action.