Erika Jane B.

Bardelosa
BSA-1B

In Search of the Self: Eastern versus Western Perspectives

(A Reaction Paper)

The piece was intended to support Alan Watts' claim regarding the differing views of the
West and East about the Self as what the works' title suggests, “In Search of the Self: Eastern
versus Western Perspectives” by Derek C. Wolter. The author quoted some lines of the British
philosopher, Alan Watts and started off the text with the question, “Who am I?” before presenting
the world’s two great myths of the Self coming from different regions of the globe, according to
Watts. He used these myths to put emphasis on how the Western and Eastern region vary on the
way they define Self, whereby in the East, Self is perceived as no distinct with its creator which
is directly in contrast with that of the West's. Wolter used the mythological roots of the religions
dominant in the East and the West as basis for his claim. In particular, his basis include: Vedas
and Upanishads of the East and Mesopotamian, Semitic, and Christian literature of the West.
The author first cited the beginning of “The Song of Creation,” the second hymn of the Rig
Veda— the first of the Vedas. It proves the non-duality of existence, supporting the Eastern
perception of the Self. Another was the first part of the Upanishads, “The Story of Creation,” then
he also mentioned “Brahman”— described as Man’s true nature. These citations further prove
Watts’ interpretation of the image of the Self in the East: the creation, Man, is the creator, the Self.
On the other hand, to establish his claim regarding Western perspective of the Self, he
promulgated the similarities amongst Sumerian, Babylonian, Hebraic and Christian mythologies
which can be summed up as man being an 'artifact' of a god, therefore an entirely different entity
from its creator made to be utilized.
After reading the article, I can say that the author provided enough supporting ideas and
evidences that could make anyone who will read it be persuaded. However, he could have made it
more convincing and effective if only he provided more examples to support his claim and made
use of simpler terminologies, respectively. In my opinion, as someone who read his work, he could
have conveyed his intended message if he wrote the article in a less complicated manner as how I
perceive it to be. As I go through the text, I honestly experienced confusion on the way he
constructed his sentences.
On the contrary, this article caught my interest, most especially the topic it discusses. As
what this work aims to achieve, to further understand other cultures through knowing the diverse
conceptions of the Self, particularly those from the West and the East for which I think it
successfully accomplished. Personally, through this article, I am now enlightened about why
different people from different regions act differently. I now know that perception about the Self
is directly related to culture and that it directly affects a person’s actions.
To sum it all up, the article tackled an interesting topic which I can describe as necessary
in order to know the primary reasons behind persons actions particularly, those coming from
different regions and cultures. Although I personally think that the text could have been more
effective with the supplementation of additional ideas to reinforce his claim and for clearer
understanding of readers. Additionally, the article would have been easily understood by
construction of noncomplex sentences though I can say that the message was successfully
conveyed but, through in-depth analysis.