Taoism is the one I like least. It has too many vague mystical elements. It seems to me that both Buddhism and Taoism are inward looking, seeking enlightenment and self-improvement as the ultimate goal, with correct interactions with others serving as a means to achieving this self-fulfillment. But Confucianism is the opposite. It is outward looking, with the goal being to create a society of peace and justice, with self-improvement of individuals being the means to achieving that end.
And so are our emotional responses. When the actions of others affect our lives, there is no "reason" for feelings of either gratitude or anger if we perceive their actions to be determined entirely by forces outside their control” (Grove,
Buddhists achieved their end path after all suffering was endured and one has come in control of every action and thought, only then could the ultimate happiness and paradise in nirvana be reached. Daoists searched for the first cause of the universe to which all souls belonged to, came from, and could return to after the ultimate control and balance was reached. Daoism and Buddhism were intrinsically similar in many ways. Mainly because of a lack of concern for politics, government, and earthly ordering of people at a socially significant level, both religions' main focus and teaching was the balance and harmony for all people in a natural way and in one's own mind. Their afterlife, so to speak, was different in the belief that individual happiness and peace was the end path for Buddhists, while Daoists wanted to remain and become once again to the continuity of the universe and all life and not as human
Both believe in one ruler over all, both believe in a good place (heaven) and bad place (hell) after death, and both believe in guidance through spiritual leaders(prophets), to name a few. Another reason I believe Natives practices have not been abandon is because their culture is inextricably linked and connected with Mother Earth. The land, the plants, the animals, and all around contain their culture, spirit, and identity; all working together to create a balance of harmony (Page 68). How can a culture’s spiritual identity gets lost when it is rooted into everything living and non-living? Lastly, spirituality was designed without written rules to be edited and manipulated, without limits and boundaries, without segregation and prejudice.
Despite leaving the Jesuit, McGirr still believes in selflessness and generosity to find happiness. He views the notion that you need very little physically to be happy. Through even small interpersonal events, he finds “the road to peace” is not a physical destination; it is a state of mind that can be achieved through the experiences that taking life as a journey brings. ‘Wants’, such as excessive jewellery or consumerism in general, will simply “drown [oneself] in [their] own excess”. Both the teachings of
He is a genuine character, honest and projecting his true personality. Not being able to live life with joy or pleasure, refusing to drink at all, criticising or judging, having new experiences despite the outcome are all examples of a constrained man. An interesting point is that you are not necessarily born being this kind of person. There is always room for change and it will never be too late to accept that change. However, it cannot come to a character as an epiphany.
The fourth Noble Truth was the truth of the path to the cessation of suffering. The fourth one tells the way to end suffering is the set of principles called the Noble Eightfold Path or the Middle Way. (Kozak). If one studies Buddha’s teachings, they will be able to “solve all [their] inner problems and attain a truly peaceful mind” (Gyasto). Without having inner peace, you cannot have outer peace.
All of the people in the brave New World believe they are the best they can be which means there is no desire to achieve anything or try harder. This also furthers the gap between real human nature because it is just basic instinct for people to make things better for themselves. When the world controller makes John stay as punishment it’s clear that the world is not a utopia because John hangs himself. By acknowledging the dystopia, Aldous Huxley demonstrates how one man's heaven is another man’s hell. Along with many other possible themes, “A perfect world is unachievable without imperfection” fits quite nicely.
Comparing Major Religions -1 Religion (Date of origin) | Dominant Values | Explanation for Evil | Salvation | Afterlife | Buddhism(Sixth Century, B.C.) | Right knowledge, aspiration, speech, behavior, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, contemplation, control of one's mind, kindness | Insatiable desires are the cause of evil and suffering | Nonattachment to the world; Follow the eight-fold path; Self-effort; Salvation is through reincarnation and working with the laws of karma; Mahayana Buddhism has deities which function as saviors. | Nirvana is the highest destiny of the human spirit--a state of indescribable bliss. In Mahayana Buddhism there are afterlife states referred to as heavens and hells. | Christianity(First Century, A.D.) | Love of God and man; Ten commandments; Service, truth, beauty, goodness, justice,
Happiness Follows from Virtue Epictetus asserted that while there is no inherent problem in seeking material comfort, the only true good thing is virtue because only virtue can be beneficial in all situations; thus virtue would not ever fail to bring happiness. This conclusion follows from the reasoning of the Stoic philosophical tradition, which states that a virtuous and reasoning person would live "according to nature" and seek true happiness from within. Epictetus said that with virtue, people would be able to efficiently live a good life; the only value in material things, such as money, is that the virtuous could use them to further