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The Three ISM’s

Buddhism

Confucianism

Taoism

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Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama:

Was born around 563 B.C.

In Nepal

The father of Buddhism

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Buddhism At 29yrs old Siddhartha Gautama

While sitting under the bo tree, he

experienced

The Great Awakening

Gautama was gone and would now be

known as the *BUDDHA*

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Buddhism The Buddha began Buddhism and

taught it to anyone who would listen.

He was teaching a religion that was

devoid of:

Authority

Ritual

Tradition

Supernatural

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Buddhism It was though in fact:

Empirical

Scientific

Pragmatic

Therapeutic

Egalitarian

Directed to individuals

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Buddhism Buddha’s key discovery is known as

the Four Noble Truths.

The first truth is Dukka. Which refers to

life's suffering. Buddha believed that the

pains we feel in life could be cured

through Buddhism.

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Buddhism Buddha’s key discovery is known as

the Four Noble Truths.

The second truth is Tanha. Which

translates to the desire for private

fulfillment.

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Buddhism Buddha’s key discovery is known as

the Four Noble Truths.

The third truth is the cure for Tanha. Not

the real cure though, just the knowledge,

and understanding that there is a cure.

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Buddhism Buddha’s key discovery is known as

the Four Noble Truths.

The fourth truth is the real cure for Tanah.

It comes in the form of the Eight Fold Path.

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Buddhism The Eight Fold Path: You must have all

of the following qualities to cure Tanha.

The Right Knowledge:

You must have the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths.

The Right Aspiration:

You have to want to reach true enlightenment for the Eight Fold Path to work.

As in Confucianism As in Taoism

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Buddhism The Eight Fold Path: You must have all

of the following qualities to cure Tanha.

The Right Speech:

You need to take notice of how often you feel the need to deviate from the truth.

The Right Behavior:

Do not kill, Steal, Lie, or be unchaste, take drugs or intoxicants.

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Buddhism The Eight Fold Path: You must have all

of the following qualities to cure Tanha.

The Right Livelihood:

Your occupation can not go against the teachings of the Buddha.

The Right Effort:

You have to be dedicated and always try to follow the way of the Buddhist.

Unlike Taoism

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Buddhism The Eight Fold Path: You must have all

of the following qualities to cure Tanha.

The Right Mindfulness:

You have to be aware of every part of yourself. Your thought and your feelings.

The Right Absorption:

If you loose delusion, craving and hostility, the three poisons. You will see things how they should be.

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Buddhism If you follow the Four Noble truths you

could reach Nirvana. Which is the ultimate goal for every Buddhist.

“Nirvana is permanent, stable imperishable, immovable, ageless, deathless, unborn, and unbecoming; it is power, bliss and happiness, the secure refuge, the shelter, and the place of unassailable saftey;… incomprehensible peace (world’s region)

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Buddhism

Buddha said that the human self has

no soul, “Anatta”.

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Buddhism

Buddha did believe in reincarnation.

He saw it as a wave.

He said that nothing will be identical to this

life in the next, “Pari Passu”.

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Buddhism There are three groups of Buddhist

today.

Hinayana: The Little Way

Mahayana: The Great Way

Vajrayana: The Diamond Way

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Buddhism Hinayana: The Little Way

They prefer to call their Buddhism

“Theravada”

The way of the Elders.

They follow the Pali Canon records.

Believed that Progress lies with the

individual.

Believe that there is no God to help you get

through life. As in Confucianism

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Buddhism Hinayana: The Little Way

The prime attribute is wisdom “Bodhi”.

Sangha: Monasteries filled with spiritual

dynamos where Theravada thrived.

They believe that their religion was for these

high priest to teach and pass on.

They would only use meditation and

invocations to strengthen their faith.

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Buddhism Mahayana: The Great Way

Claim that they represent the true line of

succession, from the Buddha.

That Buddha reached Nirvana and returned

to teach others how to reach it as well.

They believe that there is defiantly, Buddhas

and Bodhisattvas, to help them through life.

Bodhisattvas: A person that has attained enlightenment, but postpones Nirvana in order to enlighten others.

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Buddhism Mahayana: The Great Way

The prime attribute is compassion “Karuna”.

Believe that the religion is primarily for the

average person.

They added supplications, petition, and

calling out Buddha’s name for strength.

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Buddhism Vajrayana: The Diamond Way

The way to realize Buddha’s wisdom and

compassion.

Vajrayana started in Tibet.

The essence of Vajrayana Buddhism is

Tantra.

It teachings gives the advantage of reaching

Nirvana in a single life time by using, and

focusing all the energies in the body.

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Buddhism Vajrayana: The Diamond Way

Mantras: Fashion sounds into holy formulas

Mudras: Turn hand gestures into scared

dances

Mandalas: Use icons who’s holy beauty

empowers

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Buddhism Vajrayana: The Diamond Way

The Dali Lama is the Vajrayana’s version of a

Bodhisattva.

The Dali Lama has reincarnated himself 13

times, so he can continue to lead the Tibetan

people.

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Buddhism Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana: The

Rafts

They all have a single founder.

They all deal with the metaphor, using a raft

to cross life’s river.

Once you cross the river the realm of God is

no distant place. It is where you now stand.

They all have very lavish temples and

shrines. Unlike Taoism

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Buddhism Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana: The

Rafts

They all believe in the kindness to all

creatures, the non-killing of animals, the

elimination of caste barriers in religion and

their reduction in social matters. (world

religion’s)

Buddhism thrives in every Asian land, except

the one that gave birth to it. India

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Confucianism The father of Confucianism

Confucius:

Was born around 551 B.C.

In what is now the Shantung

Province

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Confucianism In his early twenties he became a tutor

At the age of fifty Confucius set out on a

13 year trek

He died at the age of 74

Confucius was undoubtedly one of the

worlds best teachers

He always taught very informal, like a

fellow learner with his students

He never thought of himself as a sage

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Confucianism With his death began his glorification

His teachings have touched almost every

Chinese student for the past two thousand

years.

Confucius believed that tradition was the key

to peace, in this very unstable time.

He believed that tradition would show them

the way back to a happy China.

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Confucianism Confucius looked back Five Hundred

years to the Chou Dynasty for the answer

on how to get China out of turmoil.

He shifted tradition from an unconscious

state to a state of consciousness.

During the Chou Dynasty, warfare had

become a very gruesome affair, whole

populations were put to death. Anywhere

from 60,000 to 400,000 people slaughtered

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Confucianism Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his

thoughts:

Jen: Is the ideal way for one to carry oneself

through life. “Measure the feeling of others

by one’s own.”

Chu Tzu: If Jen is how a person should be,

then Chu Tzu is how a person should act.

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Confucianism Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his

thoughts:

Li: The propriety- The way things should be

done. It is the way you should act in what

ever role you play in life.

A father should be a father, and a ruler should be a ruler.

Te: Translates to “Power”. How the people

with power, use it. For a person to be a great

leader his followers must choose to follow

him.

Unlike Taoism

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Confucianism Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his

thoughts:

Wen: Victory goes to the state with the

highest culture. Art has the power to

ennoble the human spirit.

China placed the

scholar-bureaucrat at

the top of its social

scale, and its soldiers at

the bottom.

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Confucianism Confucius believed that with out human

relationships, there would be no self.

There are Five Constant relationships

in life:

Parent and Child

Husband and Wife

Elder Sibling and Junior Sibling

Elder Friend and Junior Friend

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Confucianism People have to warrant the respect and

power that comes with their positions in

life. Power and respect are not a given,

they must be earned.

He believed that if everyone followed the

five ideals, even just one person the

effect would be wide spread. Through

that person’s family, community, nation,

and the world.

As in Buddhism Unlike Taoism

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Confucianism Confucius shifted China’s focus from

heaven to earth. Though he did not

remove heaven from the picture.

He saw that his country could not serve it’s

people, so how was it going to serve it’s

ancestors.

He believed that somewhere in the universe

there is a power that is on the side of right.

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Confucianism China configured the Confucianism

religion, so that it would serve everyone.

China still holds a great importance for

the Five Constant Relationships.

With each passing year people listen

more and more to there elders.

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Confucianism

You should be able to work out your

problems with out involving the courts.

Confucianism has the power to change

entire civilizations for the better. It

affects every aspect of life and makes it

better.

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Confucianism Confucius repeatedly calls for Self-

examination

There are many extravagant temples and

shrines for Confucius.

Confucius focused on the individuals, the

people more than anything else.

Unlike Taoism

Unlike Taoism

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As in Buddhism

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Taoism The father of Taoism

Lao Tzu:

Was born around 640 B.C.

No one is really sure about

any dates or places.

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Taoism Lao Tzu was not pleased with his people,

so he left and went on a journey.

Lao Tzu was asked to leave

a record of his beliefs with

his civilization.

It took him three days to

complete 5000 characters

titled the Tao Te Ching.

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Taoism The Tao Te Ching is in effect the Taoist

bible.

It centers around the concept of Tao. Or the

“path”

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Taoism There are three meanings of “Tao”

Tao- The way to ultimate reality. This Tao is

way to vast for a person to comprehend or

fathom.

Tao- The way of the universe. The norm, the

rhythm, and the driving power in all of

nature. Deals more with the spiritual side

then the Physical side of things.

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Taoism There are three meanings of “Tao”

Tao- The way of human life. It refers to the

way that we mesh with the Tao of the

universe.

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Taoism Just like the three meanings of Tao. All

three were designed to facilitate the

power of Tao through “te”

There are three types of Taoism:

Philosophical Taoism

Religious or Popular Taoism

Vitalizing Taoism

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Taoism Philosophical Taoism:

Is a reflective look at life

Relatively unorganized

Teaches what you should understand

You work on improving yourself

Seeks power through knowledge

Sought to conserve “te” and not to expend is

on friction and conflict.

Associated Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, and Tao Te

Ching

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Taoism Philosophical Taoism:

Wu Wei- The perfect way to live life, and

reduce conflict and friction

Combines supreme activity and supreme relaxation

The conscious mind has to get out of the

way of its own light.

For one to perfect the wu wei lifestyle.

A lifestyle above excess and tension.

As in Buddhism

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Taoism Religious Taoism:

Became a full fledge church

Its programs are active

“The Taoist priesthood made cosmic life-

power available for ordinary villagers.”

Their power was with magic, the harnessed

higher powers for human ends.

Want to help transmit “Ch’i” to people that

can not get it on their own.

As in Buddhism

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Taoism Vitalizing Taoism:

The programs are active

Relatively unorganized

Teaches what you should do.

Is a self help program

You work on improving yourself

Want to increase the amounts of Tao or “te”

in their life

They do this through “ch’i”

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Taoism Vitalizing Taoism:

They want to remove the barriers that

slowed the flow of “ch’i”

The power of “ch’i”

“could shift Heaven and Earth”

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Taoism Philosophical, Religious and Vitalizing

Taoism

All center on how to maximize their Tao.

They honor hunchbacks, crippels.

Because the tallest tree get the axe first.

Their temples blend in with the

landscape. They do not stand out.

Unlike Buddhism and

Confucianism

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Taoism Philosophical, Religious and Vitalizing

Taoism

They all teach that people will be at their

best, when they are living in harmony with

their surroundings.

They consider ceremonies pompous and

downright silly.

They feel there is nothing to gain from

punctiliousness, and the meticulous

observance of propriety. Unlike Confucianism

Unlike Buddhism

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Taoism The Taoist believe in opposites, and that

things in nature have a way of working

themselves out.

The Taoist believe

that people should

be spontaneous and

life their lives by

someone else’s

thoughts.

Lao Tzu connects

the human to what

transcends it.

Unlike Confucianism Unlike Confucianism

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