CONCEPTS

OF SELF:
EASTERN
PHILOSOPHY
 There is a continuous quest to find explanations as to the
real nature of being human and the self for the attainment of
enlightenment. While WESTERN PHILOSOPHY focuses
on individualistic nature, EASTERN PHILOSOPHY on the
other hand, centralized on collective existence and always
for the benefit of the larger community.

In the West, it is clear that the idea of the self is

perceived as distinct from God – the pot is distinct from the
potter, with man as the artefact of creation. In the East, the
idea of the self is indeed one of complete unity with the
creator – Man is God, acted out in a multitude of different
ways, as an actor plays a part in a drama.
 BUDDHISM

3
 BUDDHISM is a moral philosophy / SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA
religion based upon the teachings BUDDHA (566-486 BC)
of Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama
became known as the BUDDHA. 'Buddha'
(from the ancient Indian languages of Pali and
Sanskrit) means "one who has awakened". It
is derived from the verbal root "budh",
meaning "to awaken" or "to be
enlightened", and "to comprehend".
At the age of 35, meditating under a
Bodhi tree, Siddhartha reached
Enlightenment, awakening to the true nature
of reality, which is NIRVANA (Absolute
Truth).

4
 SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA BUDDHA
developed a doctrine called as ANATTA, often
defined as NO-SELF or the principle that
nothing is permanent and that no one is an
independent entity as we are all a part of a
collective whole. The Buddha taught that the
nature of reality was impermanent and
interconnected.
Buddha explained the reality of the DUKKHA
or suffering and ANICCA or impermanence is
the truth about this existence. Buddhism as a
doctrine argues that there is no-soul or no-self,
however, it is believed that every human has a
mind and body as well as a stream of
consciousness.

5
According to BUDDHISM, we suffer in life because of our desire to
impermanent things. Freedom from suffering may come by training the
mind and acting according to the laws of karma (cause and effect) i.e.
with right action, good things will come to you.
This teaching is known as the Four Noble Truths:
DUKKHA: Suffering is everywhere.
SAMUDAYA: Desire is the cause of suffering. (i.e. money, food, luxury,
etc.) “Attachment is the root of all suffering.”
NIRODHA: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana (the
possibility of absolute truth exists for everyone). “we must change our
outlook, not our circumstances. We are unhappy not because we don’t
have enough money, love, or status, but because we are greedy, vain,
and insecure.”
MAGGO: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble
Eightfold Path (right view, right thought, right speech, right conduct,
right vocation, right effort, right attention and right concentration).
“Wisdom is a habit, not merely an intellectual realization.”

6
 BUDDHISM has no belief in a personal god. Buddhists believe that
nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible. The path to
Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality,
meditation, and wisdom.
Buddhists believe that life is both endless and subject to impermanence,
suffering and uncertainty. These states are called the TILAKHANA, or the
three signs of existence. Existence is endless because individuals are
reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many
lives. It is impermanent because no state, good or bad, lasts forever. Our
mistaken belief that things can last is a chief cause of suffering.

7
 HINDUISM

8
 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'. 
The principle source of belief in Hinduism is
BRAHMAN, a supreme universal spirit that exists in
everything, including all the deities. BRAHMAN is
formless, genderless, source of all reality. In the tradition
of Hinduism, Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma are said to be
the three main deities. Brahma is said to be the creator of
the world, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, while
Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.

9
HINDUISM, believe that existence is a cycle of SAMSARA,
a repeated lifetimes of births and deaths, governed by Karma.

The ordinary human world of many separate and discrete

(finite) things (which our mind represents by our senses) is
merely an illusion. Through meditation and purity of mind, one
can experience their true Self which is BRAHMAN, God, the
One infinite eternal thing which causes and connects the many
things.
The goal in Hindu life is to somehow get back to Brahman.
When absolute purity of mind is reached, a Hindu can break
the cycle of rebirth and have their soul merge back into
BRAHMAN. This is called the MOKSHA. True
enlightenment is Self-realisation, to experience the supreme
reality as Self.

10
 THE MAIN IDEAS IN HINDUISM
INVOLVES:
1. The concept of God (Brahman, which is the
most supreme entity);
2. There is reincarnation where a soul passes
through different physical bodies as it is
destined to undergo what it deserve in
accordance with Karma;
3. The Atman or the soul that is also Brahman;
Unlike all other major religions,
and Hinduism doesn’t have a founder,
4. The world we are living in is comprised of according to HINDUISM, the religion
varied levels of existence. has no origin.

11
 TAOISM

Tao (pronounced 'Dao') can be defined

as 'path', or 'road'. The way of the Tao is
the way of Nature and of ultimate
reality. A happy and virtuous life is one
that is in harmony with the Tao, with
Nature.

12
 TAOISM as the doctrine based on the
philosophy of LAO TZU says that
Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing
the self is enlightenment. He stressed
that understanding others requires force
but mastering the self requires power
and strength.
The Taoists’ Bible called the Tao Te
Ching gives and explains processes on
how to live a life through the “dao” or
the “way” of the World which is the
path to happiness and harmony.
Lao Tzu says that humans refuse to take
the simple path and opt to go through
that which causes discord, confusion and
suffering.

13
 Lao Tzu teaches “stillness to the mind” and to let go of all worries, confusions and just
experience the world. He pointed out that nature was never in a hurry that everything
happens in its perfect time and its right schedule such as the blooming of the flowers. By
emptying ourselves of the negative, confusing and worrisome thoughts we go back to what
is important in our lives.
Lao Tzu said that we need to “empty yourself of everything, let your mind become still.” If
we are too busy, too preocupied with anxeity or ambition, we will miss a thousand moments
of the human experience. We need to be awake to the way light reflects off of ripples on a
pond, the way other people look when they are laughing, the feeling of the wind playing
with our hair. These experiences reconnect us to parts of ourselves and how we enjoy
simple life pleasures like walking along the shore.

14
15
CONFUCIANISM

16
 CONFUCIANISM identifies personality as a
product of one’s upbringing and environment.
This shows that the individual is a social being
which makes us “social animals”. In this doctrine it
is believed that every person is born with four
beginnings which lead to the formation of a “self”.
It includes the following components which are the
perfection of virtues that is found innately in the
heart of every human:

1. Heart of compassion;
2. Heart of righteousness;
3. Heart of propriety; and
4. Heart of wisdom.

17
 The practice of the above virtues
leads to the formation of the self.
However, it should be understood
that the family and community
plays a vital role in the formation
of the “Self”.
Confucius is very definite on the
need for an individual to do
something and never be idle as this
leads to the pursuit of the virtues.
There is a need to exert effort to
achieve the real nature of the “self”
in the argument of Confucius.

18
The following quotes from the ANALECTS (collection of
his discussions) demonstrate the simplicity and wisdom of
Confucianism.

  “ Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising
every time we fall.”
“ When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and
when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not
know it – this is knowledge.”
“ Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
“ When it is obvious that the goal cannot be reached,
don’t adjust the goal, adjust the action steps.”

19
SUGGESTION: ½ CW
Expound on the value of the following statements:

1. “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing the self is

enlightenment.”
2. “ We have to experience the world.”
3. “The practice of virtues leads to the formation of the
self.”
4. “The reality of suffering and impermanence is the truth
about this existence.”

20
 REMINDER:
Bring white cartolina and art
materials for the activity day.

21