Chinese Philosophies

The Teachings of Confucius, Buddha and Lao Tze

Confucius551 - 470 B.C

Confucianism is a system of beliefs based on the teachings of Kong Fu Zi (first called Confucius by Europeans)

Confucius developed a practical philosophy for life and government

His ideas focused on: proper conduct for all respect for elders education government service hard work

Code of Behavior

This code of behavior involved five relationships:

ruler and subject parent and child husband and wife sibling and sibling friend and friend

Confucius believed that in these relationships people should be:

loyal courteous honest faithful obedient to those in

authority

Confucius taught that everyone should follow a certain code of behavior.

If people followed the code, their relationships would be harmonious and enjoyable

Prominent Works

The Analects The sayings of Confucius

were remembered by his followers and were later compiled in a book of Analects (sayings), perhaps having been expanded on in the meantime. Through them we discover Confucius' notions of the virtues, i.e., the positive character traits, to which we should aspire.

Lao-Tze 606 - 530 B.C.

Daoism is a religion based on the teachings of Lao-Tze (which means “old master”), believed to be the first Daoist philosopher

Lao-Tze taught that the goal of life is to achieve oneness with the Dao, a universal force connected to nature that cannot be explained, only experienced and felt

Daoism teaches that humans should see themselves as part of nature and should understand change as part of everything.

Lao-Tze’s views on nature

Daoism stresses that the best way for humans to find peace is by living simply, in harmony with nature

Lao-Tze taught that to discover how nature works you must sit by a river, feel a breeze, or observe a drifting cloud.

Notice that nothing in nature strives for fame, power, or knowledge, so neither should you

Lao-Tze’s view on government

Daoists do not believe in strong government, but that happiness and peace can be achieved by thinking about nature, not by following societal rules and laws.

Yin and Yang

Daoism teaches that harmony comes from balancing the opposite forces of nature, called yin and yang Yin’s attributes: female, earth, dark and cold Yang’s attributes: male, sky, light, and heat

Sacred Works

Tao Te Ching (tao—meaning the way

of all life, te—meaning the fit use of life by men, and ching—meaning text or classic)

A collection of Lao-Tze’s teachings, but not written by him.

Most likely written by teachers and students of Daoism

Buddha563 to 483 B.C.

Buddhism is a religion based on the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, which means enlightened one

Gautama lived in India Buddhism was brought

to China around A.D. 200 by Buddhist monks and traders

The Four Noble Truths

The Buddha’s teachings are summed up in the Four Noble Truths: 1) all life is suffering and pain; 2) suffering and pain are caused by desire for

wealth, pleasure, fame, and power; 3) to end suffering one must overcome desire; 4) to overcome desire, one must follow the Middle

Way.

The Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path describes the way to the end of suffering

It is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions;

it finally leads to understanding the truth about all things.

The Middle Way

The Middle Way is a philosophy of life that stresses virtuous conduct, and compassion for all living things.

This leads to calmness and purity of mind

Reincarnation

Buddhism preaches reincarnation the idea that when a person dies, the soul is

reborn in a new body

The first goal in life is to attain nirvana, the condition of desiring nothing.

When one attains nirvana, he or she breaks the cycle of life and death, and is no longer reincarnated into an earthly life of suffering.

The final goal for Buddhists is to devote their lives to bringing others to enlightenment.

Enlightenment

Life

DeathRe-birth

Sacred Works

The Tripitaka the earliest collection of buddhist

writings and the most sacred text in Theravada Buddhism

The word means "the three baskets and refers to the way the texts were first recorded

The Vinaya Pitaka (discipline basket) contains precepts for monks and nuns

the Sutta Pitaka (teaching basket) contains the discourses of Buddha

the Abidhamma Pitaka (metaphysical basket) contains Buddhist theology

The Sutras Mahayana and Vajrayana sects

of Buddhism recognize hundreds of additional sutras recorded by masters after the time of the Buddha

These writings are known as the Sutras

The Sutras were put into writing between the second century bce and the second century

Heart Sutra Diamond Sutra Lotus Sutra

Review

Get your clickers ready….

Who promotes hard work?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes that to find peace one must live in harmony with nature?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who does not believe in strong government?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes in Reincarnation?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who preaches respect for elders?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes all life is suffering and pain?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes harmony comes from balancing the opposite forces of nature?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes suffering is caused by the desire for wealth, pleasure, fame and power?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who promotes education and government service?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes that to end suffering one must overcome all desires?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes happiness is achieved by living in tune with nature, not by following rules and

laws?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Who believes the first goal in life is to attain Nirvana?

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Critical-Thinking

Identify which philosopher is most likely to have said each quote…

Like a spider caught in its own web is a person driven by fierce cravings. Break out of the web

and turn away from the world of sensory pleasure and sorrow.

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well without orders. But if he

himself is not upright, even though he gives orders they will

not be obeyed

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

The more laws and edicts are imposed, the more thieves and bandits there will be.

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Life is a journey, death is a return to the earth, the universe is like an inn, the passing years are like

dust

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

The sage, because he does nothing, never ruins anything, because he does not lay hold of

anything, loses nothing

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Be respectful at home, serious at work, faithful in human relations.

Even if you go to uncivilized areas, these virtues are not to be

abandoned.

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be

ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to

be ashamed of.

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not is a disease

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

1. Confucius2. Buddha3. Lao-Tze