Eastern

Perspectiv
e
Confucius

• was a Chinese philosopher who is considered one

of the most important and influential individuals in
history.
• Confucius developed a philosophy that came to
be known as Confucianism and later gave rise to
another influential philosophy called Neo-
Confucianism
Confucius

• Among other things, Confucius laid emphasis on

family, kinship, loyalty, righteousness,
encouragement of humanity and strengthening
social bonds. He was the first in China to set up
private academies for the rich and the poor alike.
He is thus credited for positively impacting the
education system in China by making it focus on
meritocracy rather than inherited status
Confucius

• He believed that the educated aristocracy and

the rulers had an obligation to set a good
example and that morals and good governance
were essential for a healthy society. He believed
that society should be ruled by compassion and
persuasion rather than by threats of punishment.
Confucius

• According to the teachings of Confucius a “good

official” had to have five virtues which were good
etiquette and manners, kindness and compassion,
honesty and sincerity, righteousness and strong family
values.
Confucius

• As a teacher, Confucius expected his students to learn

with understanding and not through intuition. He taught
them about good governance, proper speech and refined
arts and most important of all he taught them good
values and stressed the need for morality. He wanted to
prepare his students for public service.
Confucius

• In the world of politics and administration, he

believed that benevolence, light taxes and
compassion would lead to an ideal society. His
theories gave birth to a new social system in
China.
Confucius

• Confucius believed that strong family values,

with mutual respect and family loyalty were
essential for a stable society. He stressed the
importance of seniority and the need to pay
respects to ancestors.
Lao-Tzu
Lao-Tzu

• Lao Tzu (given name Li Er) was an ancient

Chinese philosopher, born sometime around the
6th-5th Century BC in Chu, a southern state in the
Zhou dynasty and is considered to be the father of
Taoism.
Lao-Tzu

• Lao Tzu's philosophy advocates naturalness, spontaneity

and freedom from social conventions and desires. In the
Tao, which means the way, Lao Tzu refers to the
ultimate order of things and ultimate basis of reality. He
instructs us how to live a pleasant life in the here and
now without causing unnecessary turmoil or distress. He
tells us that one who can harmonize with Tao will be at
peace with existence.
Lao-Tzu

• Non-contention - Lao Tzu contended that

violence controlled, or otherwise, can only cause
negative consequences. The Tao ideal is to solve
problems peacefully.
• Non-action – The foolish expend a great deal of time
and energy trying to do everything and end up
achieving nothing. Conversely, those who are truly wise
appear to do very little, yet they achieve whatever they
want. This seemingly magical circumstance is possible
when one is in tune with the Tao and acts without
attachments.
• Non-intention – We often perform virtuous deeds
hoping to garner praise or recognition, however,
this is not virtue at all. True virtue occurs when
actions flow forth naturally and without conscious
effort or thought.
• Simplicity – The basis for our reality and existence is
fundamental and uncomplicated. We humans create a
lot of trouble for ourselves by making everything more
complex than it needs to be. If we learn to simplify our
lives, we can experience profound satisfaction that is
infinitely more meaningful than the rewards of the
material world.
• Wisdom – While logic has application in human affairs,
it isn’t everything. There are limits to what we can
understand through rationality and reasoning. To
transcend those limits, we must connect fully to our
intuition. That is the key to insight as opposed to
knowledge and the difference between living the Tao
and reading about it.
• Humility - The more you learn, the more you realize
how much more there is to learn. This realization
invariably makes you humble. On the other hand,
arrogance and egotism come from ignorance, that is,
knowing a little and assuming you know a lot.
• Duality - Lao Tzu pointed out that every quality
possesses meaning only by the existence of its opposite.
Something can only be big if there is something else
that is small by comparison. "Good" exists in the world
so long as "evil" exists as well. One cannot do without
the other.
Hinduism
• Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion,
according to many scholars, with roots and
customs dating back more than 4,000 years.
Today, with about 900 million followers,
Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind
Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent
of the world’s Hindus live in India. 
• Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this
reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a
“family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized
religion.
• Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means
they worship a single deity, known as “Brahman,” but
still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers
believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
• Hindus believe in the doctrines of
samsara (the continuous cycle of
life, death, and reincarnation) and
karma (the universal law of cause
and effect).
• One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is
“atman,” or the belief in soul. This
philosophy holds that living creatures have
a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme
soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or
salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths
to become part of the absolute soul.
• One fundamental principle of the religion is the
idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly
determine their current life and future lives.
• Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code
of living that emphasizes good conduct and
morality.
• Hindus revere all living creatures and consider
the cow a sacred animal.
• Food is an important part of life for
Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork,
and many are vegetarians.
• Hinduism is closely related to other
Indian religions, including Buddhism,
Sikhism and Jainism.
Buddhism
• The Buddha expressed his philosophy
when he said: "I teach only two things, O
disciples, the nature of suffering and the
cessation of suffering."
• The Buddha taught the famous "Four Noble Truths" and
"Eightfold Path," which allows people to
achieve enlightenment. Enlightenment (nirvana,
awakening, realization, satori) is the cessation of suffering,
freedom from conditioned existence (samsara). The
Buddha taught that every action has a consequence;
things are because of previous conditions. If one practices
the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, then one will
no longer be subject to the cycle of existence samsara.
Three Marks of Existence

1.Annica - Everything is subject to change.

2.Dukkha - All pervasive unsatisfactoriness.
3.Anatta - Everything is empty of a separate
self.
Four Noble Truths

1.Dukkha - Life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, suffering.

2.Samudaya - There is a cause of suffering, which is
attachment or desire (tanha).
3.Nirodha - There is a cessation of suffering, which is
to eliminate attachment and desire.
4.Marga - The path that leads out of suffering is
called the Noble Eightfold Path
• The Buddha taught that in order to realize
enlightenment, man must free himself from his ego, and
give up all desires. He taught that by having so many
desires (such as wanting pleasure, wealth, happiness,
security, success, long life, etc.), man subjects himself
to suffering, and will never escape the cycle of rebirths.
• Therefore Buddhism believes that suffering is self-
created.
The Eightfold Path

• Wisdom - Prajna
• 1. Right Understanding (or Right View, or Right Perspective)
• "And what, monks, is right understanding? Knowledge with regard to
dukkha, knowledge with regard to the origination of dukkha, knowledge
with regard to the stopping of dukkha, knowledge with regard to the way of
practice leading to the stopping of dukkha: This, monks, is called right
understanding.
• 2. Right Thought (or Right Intention, or Right Resolve)
• "And what is right thought? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom
from ill will, on harmlessness: This is called right thought.
• Morality - Sila
• 3. Right Speech
• "And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from
divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from
idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech.
• 4. Right Action
• "And what, monks, is right action? Abstaining from taking life,
abstaining from stealing, abstaining from unchastity: This, monks, is
called right action.
• 5. Right Livelihood
• "And what, monks, is right livelihood? There is the
case where a disciple of the noble ones, having
abandoned dishonest livelihood, keeps his life
going with right livelihood: This, monks, is called
right livelihood.
Concentration - Samadhi

• 6. Right Effort (or Right Endeavour)

• "And what, monks, is right effort? (i) There is the case where a monk generates
desire, clout, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for
the sake of the non-arising of evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet
arisen. (ii) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds &
exerts his intent for the sake of the abandonment of evil, unskillful qualities that
have arisen. (iii) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence,
upholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that
have not yet arisen. (iv) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence,
upholds & exerts his intent for the maintenance, non-confusion, increase,
plenitude, development, & culmination of skillful qualities that have arisen: This,
monks, is called right effor
• 7. Right Mindfulness
• "And what, monks, is right mindfulness? (i) There is the case where a
monk remains focused on the body in & of itself -- ardent, aware, &
mindful -- putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. (ii) He
remains focused on feelings in & of themselves -- ardent, aware, &
mindful -- putting away greed & distress with reference to the
world. (iii) He remains focused on the mind in & of itself -- ardent, aware,
& mindful -- putting away greed & distress with reference to the
world. (iv) He remains focused on mental qualities in & of themselves --
ardent, aware, & mindful -- putting away greed & distress with reference to
the world. This, monks, is called right mindfulness.
• 8. Right Concentration
• "And what, monks, is right concentration? (i) There is the case where a monk -- quite
withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental) qualities -- enters &
remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by
directed thought & evaluation. (ii) With the stilling of directed thought & evaluation, he
enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration, one-
pointedness of awareness free from directed thought & evaluation -- internal
assurance. (iii) With the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful & fully
aware, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of
which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable
abiding.' (iv) With the abandoning of pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance
of elation & distress -- he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity &
mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain. This, monks, is called right concentration."
Taoism
• Chinese philosophy to signify the
fundamental or true nature of the world:
simplicity and selflessness in conformity
with the Tao, leading a life of non-
purposive action, a life expressing the
essence of spontaneity..
• Taoism, also known as Daoism, arose about the same
time as Confucianism. Laoze (Chinese: 老子 ; pinyin:
Lǎozǐ, also Laotzi, Laotse, Lao-Tse, Lao-tzu, Lao Zi or Lão
Tu), is considered to have written a book of 81 chapters,
named Tao Te Ching, also Daodejing (trad. Chinese: 道德
經 ; simpl. Chinese: 道德经 ; pinyin: Dàodéjīng), a
classical Chinese text, mainly concerning 道 tao/ dào
"way," and 德 te/dé "virtue”, life, strength.
• Taoist thought focuses on genuineness, longevity,
health, immortality, vitality, wu wei (non-action, a
natural action, a perfect equilibrium with tao),
detachment, refinement (emptiness), spontaneity,
transformation and omni-potentiality.
• The word ‘Tao’ 道 (or Dao) translates into "path",
”method”, “principle” or "way", the character 教
translates into ‘”teach” or “class” and Taoist belief is
based on the idea that there is central or organizing
principle of the Universe, a natural order or a "way
of heaven", Tao, that one can come to know by
living in harmony with nature and hence with the
cosmos and the Universe.
• The philosophy of Tao signifies the
fundamental or true nature of the world, it is
the essential, unnameable process of the
universe. Tao both precedes and
encompasses the universe.
• Nothing in the Universe is fixed, static or non
moving; per se everything is transforming all the
time.
The flow of ‘chi’ energy, as the essential energy of
action, existence and active principle forming part
of any living things, is compared and believed to be
the influence that keeps the universal order of Tao
balanced.
• Analogies exist between all levels of existence: the
Universe, the cosmos, Earth and mankind are structured
analogically and are equal in detail, forming an
interconnected whole.
Through an understanding of natural laws, an individual
can be one with the Tao by living in accordance with
nature (cosmos/ Universe) and all its transformations and
changes, adopting and assimilating to these, and hence
can gain eternal life.
• From an ethical point of view it is considered correct not
to interfere with the spontaneity or alter it by any means,
expressed by ‘wu wei’ (chin. 無爲 / 无为 , wúwéi or also
in Chinese: 爲無爲 / 为无为 , wéi wúwéi, non- action as
in abstention of any action opposing nature).
• All things with their transformations and changes are
considered to be self regulating, self expressing in their
natural form.
• Wu wei’ does not signify not acting at all, but rather not forcing
things on their way. Wu wei signifies that the action should be
immediately in accordance with the Tao, hence the necessary will
be done without exaggeration, hyperbole or overeagerness as these
are considered obstructive, though rather in an easy, facile, non
disturbing way, leading to overall harmony and balance. It is a state
of inner tranquillity, which will show the right effortless action at the
right time.
(i.e. the harmonious complexity of natural ecosystems- the tao-
works well without man made changes- wu wei.
• Taoism does not identify man's will as the root problem. Rather, it
asserts that man must place his will in harmony with the natural
universe.
Taoist philosophy recognizes that the Universe already works
harmoniously according to its own ways; if a person exerts his will
against or upon the world he would disrupt the harmony that already
exists, he would go ‘against the flow of life’. (i.e. the harmonious
change of seasons of summer, autumn, winter, spring - the tao-
works well, though through man made global warming, the harmony
is disordered
• When following the ‘wu wei’, the goal is called ‘pu’ (simplified
Chinese: 朴 ; traditional Chinese: 樸 ; pinyin: pǔ, pú; lit. "uncut
wood", translated as "uncarved block", "unsewn log", or "simplicity"),
representing a passive state of receptiveness. It is believed to be
the true nature of the mind, unburdened by knowledge or
experiences. Pu is a symbol for a state of pure potential and
perception without prejudice, without illusion.
• The ‘te’ (Chinese: 德 ; pinyin: dé, "power; virtue", ‘”heart”, "inherent
character, personal character; inner power inner strength; integrity")
is the manifestation of the Tao within all things, the active
expression, the active living, or cultivation, of the "way" Tao, the
implementation and manifestation of the Tao through undesigned
actions.
• The Tao implements and manifests itself through
undesigned actions.
If Tao is honoured and if ‘te’ is considered precious, than
there is no need for any regulations: all is working durable
by itself. Therefore, allow Tao to create, generate, nourish,
proliferate, accomplish, ripen, mature, foster and protect;
produce without owning, affect without keeping, increase
without domineering: that is secret Tao
• The ‘Three Jewels of Tao’ (Chinese: 三寶 ; pinyin:
sānbǎo) refer to the three virtues of taoism:
1) compassion, kindness, love
(Chinese: 慈 ; pinyin: cí; literally "compassion,
tenderness, love, mercy, kindness, gentleness and
implies the term ‘mother’, ‘mother’s/ parental love’)
• 2) moderation, simplicity, frugality
(Chinese: 儉 ; pinyin: jiǎn; literally "frugality, moderation, economy,
restraint, be sparing")
When applied to the moral life it stands for the simplicity of desire.
• 3 ) humility, modesty
The third treasure is a six-character phrase instead of a single word:
Chinese 不敢為天下先 , Bugan wei tianxia xian, "not dare to be
first/ahead in the world", referring to the taoist way to avoid
premature death.
Islam
• The basis for Islamic doctrine is found in the
Qur'an (Koran). Muslims believe the Qur'an is
the word of God, spoken by the angel
Gabriel to Muhammad. The Qur'an was only
in oral form while Muhammad was living,
which means it was constantly interpreted
by Muhammad and his disciples.
• The Arabic word which gives Islamic religion
its name is islam, which means "submission,"
in particular, submission or obedience to God.
This submission takes the form of the arkan
addin, or the Five Pillars of Religion, which
form the active ritualistic life of the Muslim
and define the believer's relationship to God
The Five Pillars of Faith

• Shahadah: the confession of faith. The confession

of faith is the fundamental expression of Islamic
faith and the core of all Islamic law; it is very
simple: "There is no God but God and Muhammad
is the messenger of God" (la illaha illa 'lah
Muhammadun rasul 'llah). The shahadah is the first
thing spoken to a newborn and the last thing
whispered into ears of the dead.
• Salat: prayer. Islam enjoins upon the believer five
prayers every day. These ritual prayers must be
performed in the direction of Mecca and involve first
standing, inclining, prostrating oneself, and sitting. The
call to prayer is sounded by the muezzin (Muslim crier)
from a tower (minaret) within the mosque. The prayers
are read from the Qur'an and must be chanted from
memory in Arabiyya, or the classical Arabic of the Qur'an
.
• Sawm Ramadan: the fast of the month of Ramadan.
During the month of Ramadan, all believers must
refrain from food, drink, and sexual relationships
from dawn until dusk. The month of Ramadan occurs
at different times of the year (the Muslim calendar
is a lunar rather than a solar calendar), so the
severity of the fast varies. The fast is intended to
purify the believer as a renunciation of the world.
• Zakat: alms-giving. The Qur'an does not vilify the
accumulation of wealth as the Christian gospels do; in
fact, Islam manifestly understands the material world as
created for the enjoyment of humanity. However, one's
duties to God involve distributing one's wealth to the
less fortunate. This is instituted in Islamic law, the
Shari'ah, which constrains everyone to give the
equivalent of 2 1/2 percent of their wealth to the poor
in the form of taxes (if one's wealth is in money).
• Hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca. Every believer must
once in their life make a pilgrimage to the Ka'bah,
the sacred shrine of Islam in Mecca. By recreating
many of the events of the life of Abraham and
Ishmael who are, in Islamic tradition, the founders
of the Ka'bah, one injects oneself into the core of
Islamic history and re-evaluates one's life and one's
society in the perspective of that history.
Six Articles of Faith

• Monotheism (Tawhid )
• Belief in the Angels:
• Belief in the Prophets and Messengers
• Muslims believe that God created humans and that He
wanted us to be able to live a good life. He does not
want us to be misguided or to live miserable lives. He
also does not want us to harm other humans or to do
other morally evil actions. Therefore, God will hold
every human being accountable for every action they
have done in their life. In order to teach humanity what
is right and what is wrong, God has sent Prophets and
Messengers to guide us.
Six Articles of Faith

• Belief in the Holy Books

• Belief in the Day of Judgment
• Muslims believe that God will hold every
human being accountable for each of their
actions no matter how small. Since God is
the most just, He will not allow someone
who lived their entire life stealing, cheating
and hurting others to escape with no
punishment.
Six Articles of Faith

• Belief in Predestination
• Muslims believe that God is all knowing. He knows
what actions we will take before we take them.
In fact, God knew before we were created how
we will live our lives and every action that we
will do. This does not mean that God controls us.
Humans were given free will and they have full
control over their actions.
• Even though we have free will, God is aware
of what we will do. Muslims believe that if
God wanted to stop something from
happening or force something to happen, he
is certainly able to do so. Therefore,
everything occurs because God has allowed
it to happen.
Thank You and God Bless!