Oriental Perspectives I (Ancient) Yolafile.170117
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Buddhism and Judaism
Place of Origin: India
History: Sakyamuni (563 -483 BC, sage of the Sakya clan), Siddhartha Gautama's tribal name, was born in northeast India (Nepal). It is believed that he meditated for 49 days under a Bodi tree [“tree of wisdom”] until his “awakening”. Hence, the term “Buddha”-“the one who woke up.”
Background: Hindu Beliefs
Text/Scriptures: Vedas [Sanskrit `knowledge’]- include the
1. Brahmanas = prose commentaries of the Vedas concerned with the interpretation of the sacrificial liturgy. 2. Upanishads (to sit near)= Sacred Sanskrit Text that represents the basic tenets of Hindu thought. It contains speculative ideas about the ultimate nature of reality as expressed in the terms – Brahman, atman, samsara, karma, and moksha.
A central philosophical idea of Upanishads : there is one singleunifying principle underlying the entire universe [called Brahman], and that the worldof multiplicity is one of interconnected unity. In other words, everything is radically interconnect ed [overall theme of the Upanishad].
Terms/concepts relating to Human Person: Brahman (Sanskrit, grow/expand/ increase) is the ultimate reality and absolute ground of all beings.. . It is the unchanging reality that transcends space, time, causality and all particular things. It is the power that animates everything or sustains the whole cosmos. Only Brahman is real, and the individual souls and the universe are illusory [Maya] manifestations of Brahman.
Atman= the true self of each person is identical with Brahman. It is the essence of man rooted in the divine absolute; derives its essence from theeternal.
Hinduism believes in reincarnation and eternity of the self/soul.
Life's goal is to achieve Moksha [liberation / release from the cycle of rebirths = Nirvana. This is the highest of ends, surpassing pleasure, wealth, as all other things. Accordingly, no soul is eternally damned.
Karma, - the law of sowing and reaping, determines the form that will be taken in each new existence.. This is the law of cause and effect. Men determine his destiny through his conduct [this is the way to achieve moksha] An evil life leads to rebirth as a sub-Human creature; while good life leads to more favoured existence or toultimate liberation from the rounds of rebirths. Hence the Moral structure of the universe is the ground of the doctrine of Karma and Rebirth.
Related to the goal of liberation and perfection to needs and tasks of daily life are the life of Meditation (hermitage, where as adult person seeks illumination in the forest) and the Spiritual stage (union with Brahman) - man's inner spirit is the focus of attention; seeking spiritual release (moksha). A very important value include Ahimsa - non-violence/non-injury to living things, compassion,rejection ofworldly attachment, simplicity, humility, and courage.
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Human Nature The essential self of human being is radically connected to all beings. The ultimate self, atman, is part of all interrelated network of reality. Atman is two aspects: self as ego identified with the body and environment. It is the ordinary self. The essential self is atman, immortal and unchanging self.
A central teaching of the Upanishads is that the true self is that external aspect of reality that is somehow not different from the highest reality of Brahman. In sum, one’s essential self transcends individuality, limitation, suffering and death.
Terms to remember: Brahman, karma, moksha, atman, nirvana, ahimsa, Caste members, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas, Maya, Samsara
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Buddhism rejects the Vedic Scripture and the concept of Brahman and Atman butretains the Law ofKarma and Rebirth. The Buddha (Enlightened One) rejected the authority ascribed to the ancient gods and urged men to rely mainly on the resources within themselves. He also rejected caste system since wisdom rather than rebirth is important.. Constant change, finiteness, and suffering impressed the Buddha.
Basic Tenets 1. All phenomenal (conditioned) realities are impermanent/transcient Whatever exists, including man, changes. Hence there is no permanent reality
2. There is no soul or permanent self.
3. Human Person has 2 categories: A.. Nama = name/mind/psychological or mental aspect of human beings. B.. Rupa = form/ matter /body /physical aspect.. Human beings then are called Nama-Rupa -> man as psycho-physical being that constitute a person as distinct individual. Both nama-rupa are inter-dependent [belong to each other] One can't exists without the other.
Individual has 3 characteristic: 1. dukkha = suffering 2. anicca = impermanence 3. anatta = absence of eternal self. The anatta doctrine implies that living beings have no eternal soul and that there is no cosmic self.
The Buddhist Noble Truth 1. The existence of suffering seen in experiences of childbirth, illness, failure to satisfy desires, separation from loved ones, old age,or death. 2. Suffering is caused by tanha (selfishdesires) originally literally "thirst". 3. Possibility of the release - if one can gain enlightenment, the wheel of existence maybeendedand Nirvana (salvation) gained. 4. There is a way out through the noble Eightfold path. Monastic life is necessary for nirvana. {in sum, doing things that have important spiritual value}
Duties ofthe Laity bans 1. killing (animals) 2.stealing 3. Wrong sexual relation 4. Wrong use of speech [lying,malicious gossip] 5. consumption of alcohol/drugs. Monksmust be celibate, rejects property, and have self control through meditation.
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JUDAISM
Place of Origin: Israel
Prophet : From Abraham
Date: 6th - 5th century BCE (Babylonian Exile Argument)
20th - 4th century BCE (FF. Continuity Argument)
Text: The Torah (Pentateuch)
History. Some scholars believed that the Babylonia exile in 586 BC was a major turning point in their religion. The prior history of Israel now was reinterpreted in light of the events of 586, laying the foundation for the traditional biblical Pentateuch, prophetic canon, and historical books. The prophets believed that God had used the Babylonian Empire to punish the Israelites for their sins. Their messianic hope for a restored Judean kingdom was fulfilled when Cyrus the Great, after conquering Babylon in 539 bc, permitted them to return for the restoration of local temples.
This theory of the gradual evolutionary development that was dominant at the beginning of the 20th century, however, has been discarded by most scholars. Most Jews believed that there never was a real break in continuity and that Mosaic-prophetic-priestly Judaism was continued, with only a few modifications, in the work of the Pharisaic and rabbinic scholars.. Even today the various Jewish groups—whether Orthodox,Conservative, orReform—all claim direct spiritual descent from the Pharisees and the rabbinic sages. In fact, however, many developments have occurred within so-called normative orRabbinic Judaism.
Basic Idea:
1. The Covenant 2. Ethical Monotheism
Theory of Human Nature 1. HP exists primarily in relation to God. 2. Created by God in His Image 3. Free will or Freedom 4. Rejection of Original sin.