Eastern Philosophy,

Religion and
Education
Facilitators:
Caligdong, Thea
Camacho, Precy Ann M.
10/1/2021 Cartojano, Quiarah Jeneca G.
Objectives:
At the end of the discussion, the students
should be able to:

a) identify what are the eastern philosophies

b) define key vocabulary terms relating to eastern
philosophies such as the concepts of nirvana,
brahma, tao, yin yang, veda
c) discuss the implication of eastern philosophy in
education
Introduction:
At the time that ancient Greek
philosophy was blossoming, on the
other side of the world a different set
of philosophical traditions emerged
within the Eastern Asian regions of
India and China.
 Like Greece, both of these areas
had complex social structures,
sophisticated cultures, and, most
importantly, systems of writing that
enabled people to record their
thoughts.
 But unlike Greek philosophy
which was largely secular, Eastern
philosophies were intimately tied
to their respective religious
traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism and Taoism.
 Background
• Located in China
• The solutions to political breakdown and
social disorder
• Combination of Buddhism, Confucianism,
Taoism and Hinduism.
• Focused on life in this world and not the
after-life
 Eastern Perspectives
As with Western philosophy, Eastern philosophy
has a series of different branches. However, as
noted, these branches are spiritually centered.
The main branches are: Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism, Hinduism.
1. BUDDHISM
Background
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama
• Four Noble Truths
• Eight Fold Path
• Nirvana (rebirth)
Two Branches:
• Mahayana, Theravada
• Ceremonies performed by Monks
• Can be a part of another Eastern Religion due
to the emphasis on personal salvation.
 Dukkha
01 Suffering is everywhere and a part of
life.
Four Noble Truths

Samudaya
Four 02 There is a cause of suffering, which is
attachment or misplaced desire (tanha).
Noble
Nirodha
Truths 03 There is an end of suffering, which is
nirvana.

Magga
04 There is a path that leads out of
suffering.
10/1/2021
 Right view
Instructions for Use!

Right Intentions
Instructions for Use!

Big ConceptRight Speech

THE PHILOSOPHY Right Action

Our Process is Easy

OF THE EIGHT
Right Livelihood
Insert the title of your subtitle here

FOLD PATH
Right Effort
Easy to change colors.

Right Concentration
Our Process is Easy

Right Mindfulness
Easy to change colors.
 Buddhist Commandments

1. Do not Kill
2. Do not Steal
3. Do not Lie
4. Do not be Unchaste
5. Do not Take Drugs or Intoxicants
TWO MAIN TRENDS IN
CHINESE PHILOSOPHY
Confucianism Taoism
2. CONFUCIANISM
• Founded on the beliefs of Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius)
• Teachings were collected in The Analects
• Deals with individual and moral ethics and the
proper use of political power.
•
• Six ethical teachings:
• Li: etiquette
• Hsiao: Love within the family
• Yi: righteousness
• Xin: honesty/trustworthiness
• Jen: humaneness towards others
• Chung: loyalty
Filial Piety
• 5 Relationships
Sovereign to Subject
Parent to Child
Husband to Wife
Old to Young
Friend to Friend
• Each person had their own duties to each
other and extended to the dead
• Eventually led its way into the legal system
3. TAOISM
• Tao (pronounced 'Dao') can be
defined as 'path', or 'road’.
• Taoism is one of the great
religions / philosophies of Ancient
China (along with Buddhism and
Confucianism).
• In 440 B.C., Taoism was
adopted as a state religion of
China, with LaoTzu (so called
founder of Taoism) honoured as a
deity.
3. TAOISM
• Began in the Han Dynasty
• Written records of LaoTzu
• Two Texts: Daodejing and Zhuangzi
• Term Daoism encompasses
Daojia (“School of the Dao”) and
Daojiao (“Teaching of the Dao”)
Yin Yang
Two opposing yet complimentary forces
• Yin: shady, female, soft, slow, wet, cold, conserving,
tranquil, gentle, night.
• Yang: sunny, male, hard, fast, substantial, dry, hot,
excited, aggressive, day.
• Not the concept of “good and evil”
• Four “Laws”:
• Opposing
• Mutually rooted
• Mutually transform
• Mutually wax and wane
4. HINDUISM
• All is One (Brahman)
• The first collection of Indian philosophy
that was written down was the Vedas. The
word 'Veda' comes from the Sanskrit vid,
meaning knowledge – the Vedas are 'sacred
knowledge’.
• Their exact date is controversial, it is possible that
the knowledge dates back 10,000 years BC, and were
first written around 3,000 BC.
• The metaphysical foundation of Hinduism, which
is expressed in both the Vedas and the
Upanishads is that Reality (Brahman) is One or
Absolute, changeless, perfect and eternal.
 Eastern Thought as a
Philosophy of Education
• Progress means non attachment and
development of one’s inner being.

• Education is a way of achieving wisdom.

 Eastern Thought as a
Philosophy of Education
•Maintaining the family structure, establishing
the law, and providing for social and economic
concerns.
•Education is necessary for this life, and for
achieving life in the hereafter.
School Curriculum
Priority Subjects:
Prayer/Meditation
Reading of Sacred Literature
Recitation of Oral Legends
Philosophy
Ethics
Character Education

Others:
Writing
Mathematics
Science
Physical Education
 How Subjects will be Taught

• Self-discovery through prayer and meditation

• Guided Discussion
• Teacher Assisted Activities and Lessons
• Reflection
 Student Evaluation
• Students will move to higher level classes once the
teacher feels they have reached a certain level of
cognitive ability.
• No numerical grades will be given.
• Students will be assessed by self-evaluations, oral
discussions with the teacher, and willingness to
participate.
 Qualities of a Teacher
• Guru
• Build strong relationship with students
• Patient
• Wise
• Knowledge of sacred literature and oral tradition
• Enlightened
• Role model for prayer and meditation
 Implication of Eastern
Philosophy in Education
Compared to the Western education, Eastern
education philosophy holds on to the concept
of teaching.
Students receive fully knowledge from the
teachers inside the classroom.
 Implication of Eastern
Philosophy in Education ***
In Eastern education the students practice
the concept of memorizing, as this
philosophy focuses mainly on book learning
and memorization within the teaching and
learning process (Joyce Lin, 2008).
 Implication of Eastern
Philosophy in Education ***
The teaching and learning process through Eastern
education philosophy
stresses on the major outcomes from the teachers.
It means that, teachers are fully responsible on the
class effectiveness, by preparing and planning all
the activities for their students.
Relationship Between Teachers
and Students
Compared to the Western education, Eastern education
philosophy holds on to the concept In Eastern culture, the
teacher-student relationship is a position of trust in which
the teacher is in a position of authority and the student is
in the position of being obligated to comply with the
legal directives of the adult (Chory & McCroskey, 1999).
The Appraisal Towards Eastern
Education Philosophies
● The teachers are fully responsible in performing
the effective lessons and this makes this
philosophy implements passive learning in the
class.

● Teachers seen as “knowledge providers” and

students act as “knowledge receiver”
References
Faiser J. (2020) Classical Eastern Philosophy retrieved from
https://www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/class/110/4-eastern.htm
Culham, T. (2015) ‘Reuniting Virtue and Knowledge’ Journal of
Philosophy of Education, 49:2, 294-310.
Slideshare retrieved from:
https://www.slideshare.net/ArsalanSiddiqui5/ancient-eastern-
philosophy-by-sir-m-arsalan
 Thank You !

10/1/2021