Eastern Philosophies

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1. Write a 350-700 word response, in which you choose two or three Eastern philosophies and describe how they compare. Take sides, determine which philosophies are most persuasive, and explain why.

Let's look at Hindui and Buddhist philosophy from various sources, which you can consider for your final argument.

There are several different eastern Philosophies, including Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism. These philosophies have much to offer the west even though their way of perceiving the world and the Universe is completely different from western philosophy and thought. It contrast with Western thought that is full of dualism and dichotomies, as eastern thought and philosophy is based on the principle of oneness. All eastern Philosophies evolving from Buddhism, Taoism, and Hindu hold that everything is One. There is no God separate from human or animal existence. True there is a Higher Power, God with different names than "God" or Buddha or the Tao, but in eastern philosophy you are a part of a cosmic whole. In other words you are a part of God or you are Tao or you are a little Buddha with a small mind while the cosmic whole is Big Mind. Eastern Philosophies do have differences, even in the different schools of similar thought like schools of Taoism and Buddhism. (1)

Buddhism is a system of religious beliefs based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism is a non-theistic religion, one whose tenets are not especially concerned with the existence or non-existence of a God or gods. The Buddha himself expressly disavowed any special divine status or inspiration, and said that anyone, anywhere could achieve all the insight that he had. The question of God is largely irrelevant in Buddhism, though some sects (notably Tibetan Buddhism) do venerate a number of gods drawn in from local indigenous belief systems. (2)

Oneness is common to all eastern philosophies which can be translated into "where do you let off and the Universe begin?"and is the concept of energy. Taoists call it chi, hippies call it energy and vibrations, Hindus believe in Chakras which are powerful seats of energy within the human body. Taoists believe the same thing and believe that energy is neutral and that it flows through ...