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Are all eastern religions weird? Are they really religions? Can you have a religion without believing a god? How does reincarnation and karma affect our lives? Can anyone achieve enlightenment? Can the West learn anything from the East? Should the East learn anything from the West? |
4.4 Conclusions from Eastern
Religious Traditions (Statement
24)
The wisdom of the great eastern Eurasian
religions comes from teachers, rather then prophets or saviours, whose
teachings are recorded in the sacred books, each contain some wonderful stories
and inspiring passages but they also contain passages that were apparently
reflections of the times but are not appropriate as guides for our behaviour,
and people from these faith backgrounds will sensibly select some texts, ignore
others, obtain inspiration from other traditions and sources.
● We
can all be inspired by the great stories from these traditions, and obtain
great insight from the contemplative, mediation aspects, and reflect on the
nature of self that they convey;
● Hinduism
began with the creation of the Rig Veda poems around 1,000 BCE, exploring ways
to achieve nirvana by merging the self with the All. Later sacred texts are the Upanishads. We might take the story of the Maharaba as a fine
discussion of duty, and seriously delve into the mystery of the self, but we no
longer believe in reincarnation or karma, and should move beyond the notion
that selfless nirvana in this life or another is the primary goal.
● Taoism
probably began with Laozi around 600 BCE, and reasonably focuses on the balance
of nature, Yin and Yang, as recorded in the Book of Changes (the “I Ching”),
keeping us in touch with the environment, compassion, moderation and humility,
but the notion that an ordered life, in tune with one’s station, is the primary
goal seems limiting, its message on the nature of the Dao is difficult to grasp
and popular Taoism involves supernatural spirits and immortals.
● Jainism,
which originated in
● Confucianism
began around 500 BCE with K’ung-fu-tsu, whose teaching are recorded in the
Analects. A later great teacher was
Mencius. It emphasizes respect in our
dealings with all people and the real benefits of stability. It popularly involves prayers to the
ancestors. But its attachment to
tradition and the current order can prevent personal growth
● Buddhism
was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, around 450 BCE, and grew out of Hinduism,
but in Buddhism the self is an illusion and nirvana is achieved by truly
understanding this. Its teachings,
recorded in the Dhamma, include the way of mindfulness, the Four Noble Truths
and the Eightfold Path: rise above your ego to reduce suffering. But it retains false beliefs in reincarnation
and karma.
● Sikhism
is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the 1400s that believes
in faith and justice, and emphasizes self control, virtue, and the courage to
defend the rights of all.
● There
are some excellent stories and brilliant teachings in these religions, but
their supernatural beliefs are all wrong, and their grand narrative does not
ultimately provide meaning and purpose.
THE BELOW TEXT REALLY JUST REPEATS THE ABOVE. I NEED TO ADD SUBSTANCE.
The major Eastern religions are Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism and Sikhism.
● Hinduism began with the creation of the Rig Veda poems
around 1,000 BCE, exploring the mystery of the self in an illuminating way, and
its traditions focus on doing one’s duty, but its notion of reincarnation is
false and accepting ones karma prevents personal development;
● Jainism, which originated about 800 to 500 BCE, emphasizes
non-violence and using right vision, right knowledge and right conduct to
obtain liberation from the cycle of birth and death (reincarnation).
● Taoism probably began with Laozi around 600 BCE, and
reasonably focuses on the balance of nature, Yin and Yang, keeping us in touch
with the environment, compassion, moderation and humility, but its message on
the nature of the Dao is difficult to grasp and popular Taoism involves
supernatural spirits and immortals.;
● Confucianism began with K’ung-fu-tsu around 500 BCE and
emphasizes respect in our dealings with all people and the real benefits of
stability; but its attachment to tradition and the current order can prevent
personal growth;
● Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, around 450 BCE,
and grew out of Hinduism, retaining the latter’s focus on the nature of the
self, and very helpfully provides the way of mindfulness, to rise above your
ego, to reduce suffering, but it also retains false beliefs in reincarnation
and karma;
● Sikhism is a
monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the 1400s that believes in
faith and justice, and emphasizes self control, virtue, and the courage to
defend the rights of all.