THE IMPACT OF BELIEF

SYSTEMS

BUDDHISM, ISLAM and

CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM
An Introduction to Buddhism:
Is a nontheistic religion based on the teachings
of Siddhartha Gautama. Even if it is not based on the
idea of God , people still refer to it as a religion. The
Buddhist way to life is based on life of peace with
universal love and compassion, omniscient wisdom,
and boundless spiritual power. Happiness and good
fortune arise from peaceful and positive states of
mind, while problems and suffering arise from
confused , negative states of mind.
 SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA – Buddha
refers to the founder of Buddhism, he was
the son of King Suddhodana and Queen
Maya of the Sakya clan , whose capital
was Kapilavastu ( now Nepal).
 An Astrologer foretold that the boy
would either become a great king or a
holy man.
 The King his father determined for his son
to be king, prevented Siddhartha to leave
the palace grounds. He was from religious
teachings and from knowledge of human
suffering.
HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
At age of 29, despite of his father’s effort,
Gautama ventured outside the palace and
encountered the sick, the aged, the suffering,
and the dead for the first time. He also met
an ascetic holy man who has content and at
peace with the world. Thus, he began his
quest for spiritual life of meditation.
He lived an ascetic life by begging alms on
the streets. He practiced under two hermit
teachers of yogic meditation, mastered the
teachings of Kalama, and move on the study
yoga with Udaka Ramaputta.
With a group of five companions , he set
out to find enlightment through the
depravation of wordy goods, including
prolonged fasting, breath holding and
exposure to pain.
After six years of his journey , he
attained enlightenment under the Bodhi
Tree in India. He liberated himself from
the cycle of suffering and rebirth, arose
and attained enlightenment.
When Gautama passed away around 483 B.C.,
his followers began to organize a religious
movement. Buddha’s teachings became the
foundation for what would develop into
Buddhism.

In the 3rd century B.C., Ashoka the Great, the

Mauryan Indian emperor, made Buddhism the
state religion of India. Buddhist monasteries
were built, and missionary work was
encouraged.

Over the next few centuries, Buddhism began

to spread beyond India. The thoughts and
philosophies of Buddhists became diverse, with
some followers interpreting ideas differently
than others.
BUDDHIST BELIEF
The Noble Eightfold Path:
1. Right view – to understand wholesome
and unwholesome deeds and
comprehend the law of Karma.
2. Right Intention : the intention of non-
greed, non-hatred, and non- delusion.
3. Right Speech- abstaining from false,
malicious, harsh, speech idle chatter.
4. Right Action – abstaining from killing,
stealing and sexual misconduct.
5. Right livelihood – abstaining from
wrong and corrupt means of livelihood.
6. Right effort – awakening zeal for
abandoning unwholesome states; arising
and sustaining wholesome states.
7. Right Mindfulness- Constant
contemplation on body , feelings,
mind, and Buddhist teachings.
8. Right Concentration –
abandoning lust , ill-will, sloth-torpor,
worry, agitation, and doubt through
meditation.
 IMPACT OF BUDDHISM IN
BUSINESS PRACTICES:
• An analysis show that Buddhism
can affect business practices
positively. It emphasizes how to
foster minimalistic world view and
free oneself from worldly
attachments. Buddhist principles also
teach that opportunity favors the
hard worker. If one has good work
ethics and attitude, very little will
stand in his/her way.
Using slaves to do hard labor is
an example of exploitation
which withholds the right of a
person to earn a decent wage
and a true human existence.
Buddhist believe that to earn a
living, one must find work that
will do no harm. Harmful work
includes harming animals for
slaughter (as a butcher) ,trade
poison (toxins, alcohol, and
drugs ), manufacturing and
trading weapons
(swords,spears,arrows) of
destructions.
 ISLAM

 Introduction
 Islamic Beliefs
 Impact of Islam to Business
Practices
• AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM: The
word Islam is literally interpreted as
peace or submission. A follower of Islam
is called a Muslim, an Arabic word that
refers to a person who submits himself
/herself to the will of Allah. The Arabic
word Allah means “The One True God”
Muhammad was an Arab religious, social,
and political leader and the founder of
Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a
prophet, sent to preach and confirm the
monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, and other prophets.
Born: 22 April 571 AD, Mecca, Saudi
Arabia
Died: 8 June 632 AD, Medina, Saudi Arabia
Full name: Abū al-Qāsim Muhammad ibn
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim
ISLAMIC BELIEFS:
1. The Shahada ( Witness ) – Muslims believe
in the testimony of faith called Shahada.
Islam emphasizes the oneness and uniqueness
of God. It also declares that Muhammad is
God's messenger and his mission has brought
the final posting of the divine truth.
2. The Salat Prayer ( Prayer ) – Muslims
perform five daily prayers as an act of
personal communication with God.
- before sunrise
- noon
- late afternoon before sunset
- after sunset
- evening
3. The Zakat ( Alms ) – All Muslims are
obliged to give a charity tax of 2.5 % of their
wealth and asset each year in excess of what is
required to the less fortunate. Considered as an
act of worship because of it’s form of offering
out of gratitude to God for the well-being one
has fortunately acquired.
4. The Siyam ( Fasting ) : another way
to offer gratitude to Allah. During
Ramadan ( the 9th month of the Islamic
Calendar). They are prohibited to drink
and eat from dawn to dusk. Ramadan
is considered the holiest period in the
Islamic year as it was when the Quran
was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad.
5.The hajj — Arabic for “pilgrimage” —
is a five-day religious pilgrimage to
Mecca and nearby holy sites in Saudi
Arabia that all Muslims who are
physically and financially able must
perform at least once in their lives. It is
one of the five pillars, or duties, of Islam,
along with the profession of faith in the
one God and Mohammed as his
prophet, prayer, charitable giving, and
fasting during the holy month of
Ramadan
IMPACT OF MUSLIM TO BUSINESS
PRACTICES:
1. Practice freedom of Enterprise –
Muslims are free to choose a way to
earn a livelihood within the limits set
by Islamic. One must operate with a
sense of responsibility to pursue
lawful and just business.
2. Be honest and truthful – Qur'an
disapproves any wrong doing. One
must strive to earn legitimate
transactions and interest.
3. Trade through mutual consent – The
validity of a transactions depends on
mutual consent. Sales under coercion are
not acceptable in Islam. Taking
advantage of others’ plight and usury is
exploitation and, therefore forbidden.
4. Treat workers fairly – Islam
encourages the spirit of brotherhood
between employer and employee. It is
the moral responsibility of the employer
to take care of the welfare of the
employees. Give fair wages and have
good working conditions.
5. Keep one’s word- Muslims should
honor and fulfill business obligations as
promised, According to Islamic teachings
, contract must clearly defined the details
and explicitly enumerate the rights and
obligations of the concerns parties.
6. Be humble – One should contact life
in accordance to the teaching of Allah .
Avoid extravagance and must exhibit
goodwill in all transactions.
7. Seek halal earnings- Muslims are
obliged to earn halal money, not just
earn from any enterprise. Muslims are
prohibited to deal in haram (unlawful)
 CHRISTIANITY

Introduction
Prayers and Rituals

Impact of Christianity in
Business Practices
 SYMBOL OF
CHRISTIANITY
PRAYERS AND RITUALS :
1. Prayers – It is the way to communicate
God. Prayers can be formal and ritualistic
but they can also be personal and
spontaneous.
2. Church – Church is a structure used for
religious activities and worship.
3. Priest – Priest, Ministries are the spiritual
leaders of Christians. They worship by
reading from reading the
scriptures,prayers, speech,music , sermons,
and holy seremonies.
4. Bible: The holy book and a
product of divine inspiration and
considered by believers as the
infallible Word of God.
5. Eucharist : is a celebration
during Mass to commemorate the
final meal that Jesus took with his
disciples before crucifixion.
 Impact of Christianity in Business
Ethics
1. Producing Goods: Christians are
taught to avoid selfishness and greedy
.Producing harmful ,evil or destructive
work, such as drugs or pornography
should be avoided.
2. In employing people and being
employed – Jesus taught that the
laborers deserve wages and
employers also benefit by having the
work done.
3. In buying and selling : Commercial
transactions are in themselves good
because the community is able to help
and fulfil each other needs.
4. In earning profit : Seeking profit is
fundamentally good, however, caution
must be made that profits are not
acquired through the exploitation of others
or due to unfair practices.