EASTERN CONCEPT OF SELF
KEY FOUNDER NATURE OF THE THOUGHT CONCEPT OF THE SELF
- Sacred texts and
HINDUISM literary writings are
written in the Vedas
(knowledge in Sanskrit)
Siddhartha - Second oldest religion
BUDDHISM Gautama in India
Buddha - The doctrines are
intended to relieve the
individual from all
forms of human
suffering
- Man is regarded as a
moral self/moral
person
GOAL OF THE SELF
- Closely related to his/her
relationship with the whole
reality
- Reality can be understood in
the concepts of brahman and
atman
o Brahman: ultimate,
underlying reality
o Atman: individual reality
- Centered on the right
understanding of reality in
order to attain enlightenment.
- Understanding the reality
means knowing that the whole
universe is composed of
inseparable parts of various
kinds of life which are
interconnected, all depending
on each other and moving
from one form to another
- To be one with the Brahman
and reach Nirvana
- Nirvana: attained when one
is released or liberated from
the earthly life (moksha)
- Samsara: cycle of death and
rebirth (reincarnation),
happens when one does not
attain nirvana or
enlightenment
- Karma: governs the cycle of
samsara as well as other
human actions, good actions -
> positive outcomes/ bad
actions -> negative outcomes
- Enlightenment: starts with
understanding that
everything in the world is
temporary
- Treat an individual away from
the human suffering through
a spiritual recourse
- Spiritual cure: acceptance of
the real life
- Achieve the Eightfold Path
1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
 - Characteristics of an individual
which constitutes the truth of
human suffering:
o Suffering (dukkha)
o Impersonality (Anatta)
o Impermanence (Anicca)
- FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
Teachings of Buddha in
order to defeat the
sufferings brought about by
human characteristics
1. Life is permeated by
suffering (dukkha).
2. The origin of suffering is
craving (tanha).
3. Suffering can be
eliminated through the
elimination of craving.
4. The elimination of
suffering is possible
through the Eightfold Path.
Confucius - Confucian thinking - Centered in the proper
CONFUCIANISM focuses on the conduct of a person in society
cultivation of human - Self is focused on human-
virtues heartedness
- Concerned with o Balance between life and
people’s individual nature
development that - Innate laws of nature:
takes place within the 1. Ren (human-heartedness)
context of human – capacity for love,
relationships benevolence, charity;
adherence to the Golden
Rule (Don’t do unto
others what you do not
8. Right Concentration
- When one has achieved the
Eightfold Path, he/she
reaches nirvana:
extinguishing of craving,
liberation from resentment,
lust, hatred, delusion, false
views, grief, etc.
- To be a sage is the most ideal
type of person, but it is very
difficult to attain (only few
can be like this)
- Instead, one can be a jun tzu
(for anyone can be a
gentleman)
- Jun tzu: anyone can be like
this
o Lives a simple life
o Can live in poverty
o Loyal, obedient,
knowledgeable

Lao Tzu - The way of tao is - Based on the understanding of
TAOISM universal, and since a
person is part of this
universe, he/she must
follow the ways of the - Practicing enlightenment:
tao.
- Universe is viewed
holistically in order to
achieve harmony,
purpose, order, and
calm power.
- Error, suffering, and
unhappiness result
when one attempts to
separate things just to
understand the parts
want others to do unto o Hardworking
you.) o Does not engage in empty
2. Yi (righteousness) – talks
rightness of an action in a - Moral responsibility of every
given situation with person is to become the
nothing in return gentleman/superior man
3. Zhong which can be achieved by
(conscientiousness) – uncovering and living with
application of the Ren the innate laws of nature
4. Li (propriety) – doing
things the right way;
ethics, manners,
behaviors
5. Xiao (filial piety) – respect
and honor for parents’
welfare, both spiritual
and emotional
- Man must understand that
the whole of the universe there are invariable laws
which follows universal and (ch’ang: abiding/eternal)
unchanging laws through enlightenment
when a man understands and
incorporates the invariable
laws in his/her everyday life,
he/she becomes unfailing
(since the invariable laws are
unfailing)
 without understanding
the whole
ISLAM Allah - Origins of human - Revolves around the origin and
beings:
1. Spiritual origin
2. Biological origin
o Explains that
persons come to
this world through
their mother but
their ultimate origin
is Allah, hence they
should humble
themselves
stages of his/her creation,
attributes, capacity to
understand, capacity to do
good, understanding of the
purpose of life, and relation
with the rest of the creation
- He/she must not bow down
to any evil doings.
- Allah endowed humans the
capacity to distinguish good
from evil.
- The goal is to develop and
elevate himself/herself
towards a life of virtue and
knowledge