Eastern and Western Concept of Self

Eastern-Western Distinction

most common distinction between people and cultures.

Individualism

the idea that the fundamental unit of human species that thinks, lives, acts towards goals is the individual; can form independent judgements. Can act on our own thought and disagree with others.

Collectivism

the idea of the fundamental unit of human species that thinks, lives and acts toward goals to a group; when your identity is a large part or role in a group.

Geertz

defined the western concept of self as “a bounded, unique or less integrated motivational and cognitive universe.”

Western Self as Analytic

analytic-deductive, with emphasis on casual links

Western Self as Monotheistic

belief in one Supreme Being coexisting in the universe.

Western Self as Individualistic

exhibits the coexistence of favorable snd unfavorable conditions inherent in personal freedom.

Western Self as Materialistic and Rationalistic

western way of thinking is focused on material “things” and favors a rational-empirical approach

Frank Johnson

defined western concept of self.

Hinduism

expounded in Vedanta, a major school of Indian thought based on Upanishads, the classical Indian philosophical treatises; one of the oldest religions

Brahman

an absolute reality; beyond our existence

Atman

true knowledge of self; soul or spirit

Vedanta

characterizes human suffering as the result of failure to realize the distinction between the true self and the non-true self.

Law of Karma

most important doctrine of Hinduism; individual actions will lead to either good or bad outcomes in one’s life.

Buddhism

To be awake may imply that opening the eyes would lead to understanding more about the self and the world.

Siddharta Gautama

known as the Buddha, or the founder of Buddhism.

budh

root word of Buddhism; means awake.

Eightfold Path

elimination of suffering is through the practice of

Samadhi

means concentration

Confucianism

the basic conduct is knowing how you act in relation to others.

Taoism

rejects the Confucian idea of a relational self. To them, the self is an extension of cosmos, not of social relationship.

Tao

commonly regarded as Nature that is foundation of all that exists.