Buddhism has been around for more than 2,500 years. Most people have heard of Buddhism, but Buddhism is only a small fraction of Eastern philosophy and religion. Much of our world has been Westernized due to colonization, and we’ve lost touch with the influential ideals of the East. Diving deeper into Eastern philosophy opens a horizon of opportunities for those who study it, especially because it’s so seldom talked about. Are you wanting to discover these things for yourself?
Keep reading below to learn 5 surprising facts about Eastern philosophy that you didn’t know. Prepare to be enlightened.
What Is Considered Eastern Philosophy?
As mentioned above, Buddhism is part of Eastern philosophy. In addition to Buddhism, there’s also Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese philosophy. And so much more!
Eastern philosophies are ideals and teachings that originated in the Eastern world. They are different than the teachings of Christianity, Judaism, and Western Paganism.
It’s important to keep in mind that while philosophy does have some overlap with religion, such as the idea of faith, it’s not religion. Religion contains sets of beliefs and dogmas not meant to be questioned while philosophy presents questions and ideals that allow us to get closer to the truth of the Universe.
Western vs Eastern Philosophy
Western philosophy contains teachings that originate from the Western European world, such as Greece and Rome. We often think of Aristotle or Socrates when thinking about Western Philosophy.
The philosophy of the Western world focuses on individualism. It ponders how the individual operates within the Universe and how an individual can expand one’s self.
Eastern philosophy focuses on the collective. Many Eastern philosophers have spoken about the importance of denying our ‘false’ self as we connect with the greater community around us.
Remember everyone is different! While this is a generalized difference, everyone studying philosophy has an individualized approach to the world.
1. It’s Not Sugar-Coated
You may have seen the word Duhkha. This word comes from Buddhist and Hindu philosophy and speaks on suffering.
While the thought of never-ending suffering may be one of the saddest Eastern philosophy facts for many people, it’s true that we can’t escape the suffering and uneasiness of life. But learning to accept despair helps us appreciate the good.
Health and beauty fade away while money is spent. We also lose our youth and find ourselves disappointed with those around us. These are inevitable pieces of life.
But don’t worry. Tucked into those bleak moments are opportunities for new friendships, intimacy, and adventure. Death is part of the cycle of life but so is birth.
2. It’s Not Concerned About You (In a Physical Sense)
This fact means no offense. Before you get upset, think back to the above-mentioned idea of collectivism that’s central to Eastern philosophy.
The Western world often encourages self-care and self-promotion. We are taught to focus on ourselves and to identify with our personal accomplishments.
While nurturing the body and mind is important, Eastern philosophy reminds us what happens to our body isn’t all that important. Our bodies will only live this one life. It’s our soul and Self-God that carries on.
Stemming from Hindu philosophies, the idea of the Self-God connects our deepest inner beings with God himself/herself. Through this likeliness to God, we find we’re also intimately connected with the inner beings of those around us.
3. It’s Adaptable
Many aspects of Eastern philosophies are adaptable to the current day, despite these teachings being thousands of years old.
Because of this, plenty of people enjoy learning and incorporating pieces of Eastern philosophy into their daily life. The ideals not only adapt through the ages of time, but they also adapt through the experience of one’s life.
No matter what is taking place in a person’s life, there’s always more room for compassion and understanding. We should all stop and take a deep breath sometimes.
4. Attitude Is Everything
When studying Eastern philosophy information, you’ll quickly realize attitude is everything. Taoism speaks on Wu Wei– a Chinese term that means going with the flow.
This term doesn’t imply laziness or inaction. Rather, it encourages us to surrender to what’s going on around us. We can’t change what happens, but we can change our attitude towards what’s happening.
For example, let’s say a tire on your car popped on your commute to work. It’s better to practice acceptance rather than allowing yourself to become overtaken by rage and irritation. You don’t have to like that your tire popped, but it’s best to accept the reality of what happened.
5. It’ll Loosen Your Controlling Grip on Life
There are many Eastern philosophies, such as Buddhism and Taoism, that focus on non-dualism.
Non-dualism is about the interconnectedness between you and the world around you. We suffer many times because we are constantly trying to maintain a separate sense of self in the world. What if we just let go?
If we loosen our grip on life, we start to see how we’re connected with everything around us. Life becomes less about avoidance and more about being.
We realize our connection with other humans, animals, and objects in nature. Non-dualism brings us closer to enlightenment.
What to Keep in Mind About Eastern Philosophy
Eastern philosophy holds a world of beautiful truth, leading us closer to awakening. There are many pockets of philosophical teachings, such as Buddhism or Taoism, to explore under the larger umbrella of Eastern philosophy.
Philosophers from this region of the world taught humanity about the importance of attitude, nondualism, and surrender. The teachings have adapted through time and still open our eyes to truth today.
Do you need help getting closer to your own truth? Call our toll-free number today for guidance from a trusted psychic.
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