So I have been wanting to put my blog on the best host I can afford for a while. I have been skating along on thin ice in terms of the current web hosting, and it was high time to make the change. I am so glad I made the switch/upgrade. I think it makes all the difference when people come to a fast loading site. Remind me in the comments to write a full review of the web hosting company that I chose because that might be interesting too. I think it is important to try and find a good web hosting company for a number of reasons. One being that they are the engine of your site. If your web hosting is unreliable your readers will think you are unreliable, not your web hosting. Two the speed of your site has a lot to do with your web hosting. If it is good hosting, then your site will load fast. If not, then well… it wont.
Eastern Philosophy made a big impact on western society in the swinging sixties, a decade already full of psychedelic upheaval. Here was a time of social and cultural change with a generation of younger people looking for a different life view than the post war era could offer them.
The literature and philosophy of Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Zen found its way via popular culture into mainstream society. When pop groups the stature of The Beatles included eastern philosophies in their lyrics and eastern instruments on their albums, then the influence of Eastern Philosophy could not be ignored.
For those disillusioned with what their consumer and market led society could offer them, eastern philosophy offered a differing viewpoint on life, one that seemed to hark back to a simpler life based on natural laws and a life in tune with the universe.
After the world wide conflicts that affected most of the early twentieth century there was a quest for a different way of living. The arrival of eastern ideas certainly gave people a new way of looking at the world.
An important belief in many types of Eastern philosophy is that you should live in the moment. Life, according to this philosophy, exists as a series of present moments. The past is behind us, and the future is not yet here.
We can think about the past, but we are thinking about it in the present moment. In a similar way, we can think about the future, but even while thinking of it, we are still in the present. Eastern philosophy teaches us that if we stay grounded in the present moment, we will be more in touch with reality.
One way to get grounded in the present is to pay attention to the information coming in through your senses. Focus on what you can see, hear, feel, taste, and touch. Your may have a lot of distracting thoughts flitting through your mind which distract you from what is going on in the present, but if you return your focus to your senses, your awareness will come back to the present moment. Many people who meditate focus on their breath to become grounded in the present moment, to quiet down the chatter in their minds, and to become more relaxed.
Philosophers travel far and wide to study knowledge, reason, and religion. Eastern religions have captured the attention of philosophers since the beginning its civilization. It is well know for the variety of beliefs one can study. This variety includes Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism. With Buddhism people were taught that they could liberate ones suffering buy cause and effect. The more familiar term would be karma. If one did positive things in life than they would be rewarded. If one did bad things than they are to look forward to punishment. Buddhists do not believe that there is a soul, self, or atman within us. It is still studied by many philosophers.
One of the earliest known documents in Indian philosophy is know as the Vedas. The foundations of Hinduism are found within these texts. Hinduism is said to believe that one can contact God through mediation. The main focus in this religion is Self-realization. Confucianism is appealing to modern readers. To be a Confucian “international scholars” one had to study social and political philosophy. It encouraged study and self-cultivation. Hopes of perfect unity of social norm and natural behavior derived from its’ teachings. Tao meaning “path” helped to guide Ancient China in the right religious direction in 440 B.C. During this time it was accepted as the state religion. When the Ch’ing Dynasty ended so did Taoism. Many philosophers still study it as of today.
Eastern philosophy is any of the philosophy found in the eastern countries like Asia. As one can tell, eastern philosophy differs greatly from the philosophy that you would find in the west. However, there are some forms of eastern philosophy even in western philosophy. Many of the philosophies believe and give respect to a God or a divine entity.
Some of the most famous forms of philosophy are Buddism, Hinduism and Confucianism. There are some eastern philosophies that believe in reincarnation, karma and non-violence. There are some eastern philosophies that teach reaching the divine through sexuality which is in opposition to the idea that sexuality is in opposition to the divine.
A lot of the philosophies have a certain goal that is to be reach. The goal is often referred to as enlightenment. Some philosophies call it nirvana. Whatever the name, it is the apex of the spirituality. The life changing event that will bring meaning to the practice.
Eastern philosophy is a broad category that includes the many philosophies of Asia. Areas of Asian philosophy that make up Eastern philosophy include Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Korean philosophies. Religions that fall under the Eastern philosophy way of thinking include Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Buddhism and Maoism. Independent of Western philosophy, Eastern thoughts are quite different from Western. Differences between the two include the perception of God and Gods, the role of the individual, and the relationship between Gods’ and the universe. Western philosophers focus on the individual’s rights while Eastern philosophers stress social responsibility. The focus of the Westerner is to find and prove the absolute truth. For Easterners, the truth is accepted as the way it is and the focus is on finding balance in accepting that truth. Easterners also believe living a life full of virtue and being spiritual is the key to success. In fact, a core belief of Eastern philosophy is that the things you do today shape your tomorrow. Eastern philosopher Confucius once said, “Study the past if you would like to divine the future.”
Eastern philosophy is an outlook on life and conduct that originates in areas such as Asia and the Middle East. This includes the philosophy from countries such as China, Iran, Japan, India and Korea. With eastern philosophy, Babylonian and Islamic outlooks on life are also part of this unique aspect of world views. The eastern philosophy consists of religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. It also consists of Confucianism and neo confucianism. These religions and outlooks on life are an important part of the lives of people in the eastern regions of the world. They have also been a central part of the culture of these nations as well. With this philosophy, unique approaches to life have been developed which include moral and behavior standards, ethics as well as cultural aspects such as poetry and literature.
The eastern philosophy is very diverse and has provided many people with benefits. These benefits include education, personal enrichment and personal growth. These philosophies have provided a unique contribution to the world. With other things such as wisdom, the eastern philosophy has allowed people to live better and more meaningful lives. Eastern philosophy has enabled people throughout the world to enlightent themselves.
Eastern philosophy encompasses a diverse array of religions and ethical pathways originating in the regions of Asia and Central Asia. The common connection within these religions and moral pathways derives from seeking to understand ones relationship within the universe. Less emphasis is placed on the individuals relationship with God or gods within the religious framework. So too, within most eastern philosophies there is less of a distinction between religious and secular life. Through universal patterns of good thoughts, gaining unity with the universe, and committing good deeds, one can obtain a peace and develop a moral compass that does not require outside validation. Many of these eastern philosophies emphasize connectedness within society, within families, and between individuals as a focus. As a result, there is a secondary resulting emphasis on non-violence and moral actions to guide ones life. Eastern philosophy as a means of developing a moral compass may allow one to gain perspectives on one’s relationships.
The word Zen refers to a state of meditation in which thoughts emerge then pass without interruption from the one who is meditating. Through this process one can see the transience of life and all its manifestations while at the same time awakening to the source of life at the center of everyone of us.
You do not have to become a monk or spend a lifetime practicing to reach that state of perfect flow. Zen is for everybody. When we fill up a glass with water, when we put on a shirt, when we greet a friend, all of these instances can fill us with the same feeling of meditation and stillness that goes with a Zen state. It is all down to awareness, watching things emerge then pass.
A true Zen follower would realize the contradiction in having any Zen teachings at all. How can one teach that which is unteachable? How can you speak of experiences that go beyond words? Include Zen in your daily routine to calm your mind and deepen your experience of life. Your own consciousness is all you need with which to begin your Zen adventure.
Eastern philosophy is actually the differences in religious prospectives, such as Chinese, Japanese, Iranian, Jewish and Buddhism for instance. All believe that there is one ultimate God, and while others do believe this others may believe that there are demigods. A few different examples of Eastern philosophy may be as in these examples.
Buddhism (did not believe in any divinity) Chen or Zen Buddhism (teaches that the entire universe is of the mind) Confucianism (often times thought of as a religion, Confucius in many of his writing mean this to pertain to socially acceptable behaviors, focus was on human beings, Neo-Confucianism, Carvaka (materialistic and atheistic beliefs) Chan (belief to let everything take its course), Daoism (belief to let everything take its natural course), Hinduism (belief of release of the soul through meditational thoughts) Islamic (belief in the non-realibity of reason, and restructured though process of God, justice and ones destiny), Jainism (belief in self denial, self deprivation, and self-discipline), Jewish (belief in self improvement and education in order to reach a higher plain, does not believe that Jesus is God), Legalism (belief that morality is not an important issue but strict interpretation of laws), Maoism ( dividing truth from fact).