Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism - Research Paper Example

? Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism Task Introduction Religion as a faith in supernatural beings is commonly found inevery culture. The Eastern Religions are categories as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Each of these have a set of philosophies and practices that controls the lives of those who uphold the various faith Buddhism is a religion and a way of thinking that practices a lot of tradition, beliefs, and practices as taught by them. They have specific perspectives, which shape the thinking and conduct of the followers, regarding the spiritual goals of human beings and moral values. Buddhism The religion is Buddha or the awakened one to shape when Buddha lived in India and he taught people how to overcome suffering by rebirth and end ignorance. This was around the 6th and 4th centuries, but the religion has many branches as teachings. The religion has various books about each of the practices, which are observed by different followers depending on the station within the faith. Buddha was born in Nepal and an astrologer foretold that he would become a great king or a holly man. His father wanted him to be a king but at the age of 29, he went out of the palace and saw the suffering that people went through especially the sick, common people and also he met one holly man who was at peace with the world. This experience made him to abandon the royal life and to take up a spiritual life (Jinpa, 7). He went to learn from the religious leaders of his tome and he mastered how meditate but and when he discovered that it could not cure suffering permanently he continued searching and engaged in pronged fasting, breath-holding and exposure to pain. He almost starved himself to fatality inn the process, but he decided to settle for meditation to avoid the extremes. At the time, he ended his suffering and received rebirth he claimed to have received enlightened. He then attracted followers at the age of 35 years, he spent the rest of his life teaching the enlightenment, and He died at the 80 in India Means action called Karma and work and is the force that drives the cycle of suffering and rebirth of every being. It holds that there exist good work and bad works in society. Each action good or bad produces sees in the minds, which also bear fruits in this life or the next life after rebirth. It appeals to people to have ethical works in the body speech and mind. All intentions come from which later bear fruits from that mind. The forgives for ones conduct is not allowed in some teaching of Rebirth holds that all being go through a series of stages in different lifetimes starting from life to dearth. That one does not have a permanent self. Since rebirth is, a continuous process determines by the actions of an individual. Every rebirth takes place within hell, ghosts, human beings, low deities, and gods. However, any Buddhist practitioners can obtain rebirth into higher levels. It teaches individuals to have good morals and perform good works so that they may be reborn into a good state in the next stage in life. It holds that all beings crave pleasure while at the same time avoiding pain from birth to death. The Buddhist helps in eliminating the pain and conditions that may lead to rebirth into pain. The causes of suffering and their solutions in life itself lead to pain and suffering in one way or another. It teaches that to avoid suffering is usually caused by craving for what does not exist; one should stops the illusions or attained the enlightenment The Noble truth that prevents suffering and attains wisdom, which purifies the mind and living in the reality. Morality and ethics is possible by abstaining from bad deeds, by avoiding harming others. Mental discipline achieved through meditation, which helps one to master the mind and making effort to improve. It shapes on to live better life by being occupies with good deed that leads to a better rebirth. The religion assists individuals on how to avoid pain and how to leave better, not only in this life but also into the next life when one is reborn. (Jinpa, 35). Hinduism It is a religion based on tradition of the indigenous Indians, and is called the law that sustains. It comprises practices and philosophies that teach morality regarding human actions. It accommodates many practices and ways of thinking regarding the morality since different traditions are incorporated in it. Hinduism therefore has no single founder and its assumed as the oldest religion due to its origin in tradition which people practiced from the time immemorial The texts used are said to have originated from what people remember of what is revealed to them as practices of religious living. There are authoritative and are considered for good conduct and life. The religion has strong attachment to river Indus and the Indian subcontinent, with Hindu being away of referring to the natives of India. They believe that there is a power that keeps nature and everything in balance, leading people to the right path instead of evil. This is order, harmony, and truth regarding all matter. This is the moral law controlling the universe. Hinduism believes that a truth is one and t leads to happiness and purity. It found into existence around the 3rd century. The religion is sub-divided into braches with some concerned with local traditions and local cults; traditionalists; and philosophical approaches. The religion advocates for the need for upholding truth in all conditions so that harmony may prevail and happiness may be achieves. It gives hope to the adherents that those who uphold the truth will leave better lives and will have a better station of life in the next life. Hinduism therefore promises rich life in the current state and gives good values that are meant to lead an individual into a greater state beyond death. It gives individuals the power to endure hardships in order to get the final gift depending on the actions of an individual. Therefore, an individual may fast and sacrifice to have a better life and even to have material wealth and real joy. These when practiced lead one to life free from gloom and later on to eternal life of happiness. Daoism Daoism religion is also known as Taoism and aims at bringing harmony with the Tao populace. The individuals practicing the religion believe that Daoism is the mechanism in which everything exists. The literal meaning of Tao is nature, as it emphasizes on protecting and maintaining the environment. The religion is traces its origin in China and has spread to countries neighboring it. Taoism religious believes varies from one branch to another, and is rooted deeply in the Chinese culture way of life. The worldview on Daoism has varied from individual’s perception, and the way they understand it. Some individuals view it as a philosophy while other people view it as a religion. Wing-Tsit Chan was a Chinese philosopher who studied the Daoism religion and concluded that it degenerated from the Daoist philosophy that came up from the Celestial Masters during the Han period. Later, the westerners who got interested with the Daoism culture concluded that there was a great difference between Daoism religion and Daoism philosophy. Daoism claim on nature reality is evident in the symbols they use to represent certain gods who they perceive as their helper. The religion also respects and value food grown in the environment, since foods such as grape are offered as a sacrifice to their gods. The images depicted from the environment include Taijitu and ba gua that are in form of a dragon. They have high esteem towards nature, since most of their religious practice involve with an environmental aspect or feature. The religion believes that a human being is a microcosm for the entire universe. Man is perceived as the epicenter of the living things in worldwide and has many roles to play. The spiritual goal for human beings is to maintain good relationship with the environment, improve the health, and widen the life to immortality. The human dilemma on the religion is whether to take Daoism as a religion or a philosophy. The religion emphasizes on the following types of moral values and ethics; kindness, simplicity in life, and modesty. Other values that believers of the religion need to practice and keep in their hearts are compassion and humility. The traditions shape the way people live and associate with one another since it gives guidance that are supposed to be strictly adhered to. Daoism religion believes that people should live peacefully with one another, and appreciate the natural order of life. Confucianism The religion was introduced in China by a popular philosopher called Confucius, and is believed to be the foundation of all the religion existing in the country. He is perceived as the most influential person in the Chinese history for introducing and spreading the religion widely (Rachel, 46). Confucianism means school of scholars, since it came up from the teachings of Confucius. Most cultures existing in the neighboring countries are influenced by the religion, and they include; Taiwan, Korea and Japanese. The religion played a core role in Chinese civilization in the year around twentieth century. The worldview on the Confucianism varies on individual’s comments and way of taking things. Many people view Confucianism as a religion while others view it as philosophy. The eastern religion perspective views it as a philosophy that touches on the life human beings. Meanwhile, various books have grouped it as one of the many religions that exists in China such as Buddhism and Zoroastrianism (Rachel, 46). The religion’s claims on nature show that man is similar in ways of reasoning and doing things. It claims that human beings are similar both physically and socially. They believe that man is can be taught and gain information that can affect and improve his life significantly, therefore concluding that human beings nature is teachable. The teachings show that initially man is ignorant and weak, but he as he grows and matures, he gains knowledge and perfects his skills. According to the nature of realty, the religion believes that nature should be take care of and maintained well. They use some physical features of nature during their prayer times. The religion does not have spiritual goal since its ideology is in human beings. It does not belief in the existence of god and other spiritual beings but believes on the environment and nature. The religion believes that a person should give out his life to maintain the good morals practiced in the society. The religion believes in the following moral values; good etiquette, loyalty, and good relationship between people. The moral value assists in the maintenance of peace with ones neighbor. The tradition of the china allows for the growth and expansion of the religion since it believes go well with religions way guidelines and regulations. The hope that the religion is offering to her adherents is that they should leave peacefully for a prosperity peaceful life in the future. Conclusion The religions discussed are Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism that are mainly situated and practiced in the Middle East and Asian countries. They aspects highlighted in the discussion are the worldviews, claims of nature of reality and persons, the significance of moral values and finally, the kind of hope it offers to its adherents. There are many religions practiced worldwide and people should respect the each person’s religious believe. Works Cited Jinpa, Thupten. The World of Tibetan Buddhism: an overview of philosophy and practice Wisdom Publications: Massachusetts USA, 1995. Pp 7-35. Rachel, McDevitt. Introduction to Confucius, Confucianism, and the Analects. Confucianism Understanding and Applying the Analects of Confucius. Vol. 12(1). 2007. Read More