What Are the Philosophies Included in Eastern Philosophy?

Eastern Philosophy

Eastern philosophy and mysticism have fascinated us ever since we first learned of their existence. Whether it’s meditation, chakras, or yoga, we have always appreciated the spiritual ideas of the East.

However, appreciating eastern philosophy and understanding eastern philosophy are two different concepts. Let’s explore some of the core concepts and ideologies which feed into these ancient, ancestral philosophies.

Schools of Eastern Philosophy

Like in Western philosophy, not all Eastern philosophers agreed. As such, there are many different schools of Eastern philosophy. Some of these have even formed the basis of religious practice. Examples include:

  • Buddhism: based upon the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as “the Buddha”
  • Hinduism: appertains to the teachings written in the Vedas (lit. sacred texts) about the Brahman, or reality
  • Taoism: codified by Lao Tzu, focuses on the road or path of nature and reality
  • Confucianism: compiles and focuses on the wisdom of the Chinese sage Confucius

Now that we have a basic background for some of the different schools, let’s examine the teachings and concepts we’ve absorbed from them.

Reincarnation

Hinduism and Buddhism both give us the idea of reincarnation. The principle behind reincarnation is that, when we die, we are reborn into a new body.

Philosophical schools vary on how our new body gets decided by the universe. Some state that our deeds in our current life determine our new body. Others state that our new life serves to teach us lessons we failed to learn in our old.

If you have the distinct feeling that you’ve been around the circle of life before, you might be an old soul. As such, you might benefit from receiving a past life reading.

Filial Piety

This concept features prominently in Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist works. Filial piety is, in essence, loyalty to one’s family. It means that you respect and treat your elders well as a matter of course.

Elder reverence, and thus, ancestor worship plays a massive part in many eastern cultures. Honoring those who came before can be good. However, many in the West bristle at the implication that elders deserve respect simply due to being older.

Chakras

Chakras, as a concept, come from the Vedas of Hinduism but have recently taken off in popularity in the West. Spiritual people in any piece of fiction within the last twenty years have often accused someone of having blocked chakras.

But what are the chakras, really? What do they do? This question could merit an article all its own, but for the sake of summary, we’ll list the basics below:

  • Root Chakra: located at the tailbone, associated with the color red, refers to grounding and stability
  • Sacral Chakra: located below the belly button, associated with the color orange, refers to sexuality and creativity
  • Solar Plexus Chakra: located in the upper abdomen, associated with the color yellow, refers to confidence and self-esteem
  • Heart Chakra: located near the heart, associated with the color green, refers to love and compassion
  • Throat Chakra: located in the throat, associated with the color blue, refers to communication
  • Third Eye Chakra: located between the brows, associated with the color indigo, refers to imagination and intuition
  • Crown Chakra: located atop the head, associated with either violet or white depending on the system, refers to intelligence and awareness

Misaligned or blocked chakras can negative physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Finding the block’s source can be difficult, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed.

Meditation

If there is any concept from Eastern philosophy that has taken off like wildfire in the West, it’s meditation. Whether it’s used for spiritual practices or controlling mental health issues, you can find articles upon articles of meditation advice out there.

In its original, spiritual form, meditation was designed to bring mankind closer to the divine within. In Hinduism, that’s contacting your inner Brahman. In Buddhism, it’s ascending to Nirvana. Whatever the goal, meditation is part of the path to take you there.

Meditation as a practice helps tune out the excess noise of our modern lives and get back in touch with our core thoughts. We’re so overstimulated these days that we struggle to focus and find ourselves. By filtering out the nonsense, both internal and external, meditation puts us back in touch with true reality.

Animism

This belief that every single thing on this planet, living or manmade, has a spirit is not as popular in Western circles. However, it connects handily with Daoism and many other philosophies’ core ideals that all beings are connected. Many spiritual circles, regardless of whether they give it this name or not, practice a form of animism in their beliefs.

The reasons why animism isn’t as popular in the West as in the East are unclear. However, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine it as antithetical to the harm we do to our mother planet and each other.

Want to Learn More?

It’s interesting to see how many concepts from Eastern philosophy migrated to Western spiritual practices. Some stayed in the context of their original philosophical works and beliefs. Others were morphed into something more suited to Western preferences.

Regardless, we have all felt the East’s influence on our spiritual lives.

If this all seems a bit too esoteric, that’s understandable. Don’t worry, any number of our talented psychics will be glad to help you make sense of it. Don’t hesitate- call us today and find out what your life has in store!

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