Difference Between Eastern and Western Philosophy

Eastern Philosophy
Issues
Main Schools
Main Principles
Western Philosophy
Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Integral Yoga, Islam,Taoism, Zen Christianity**, Rational, Scientific, Logical schools
1. Cosmological unity
2. Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the
realities that surround us
1. Feeling oneself as an element of the Divine

2. Life is a service (to the God, money, business, etc.)
3. Linear view of the universe and life, based on the Christian
philosophy where everything has its beginning and the end.
4. Outer-world dependent
3. Circular view of the universe, based on the perception of

eternal recurrence
4. Inner-world dependent
5. Self-dedication to the goal (life vision, success, happiness,

etc.)
5. Self-liberation from the false "Me" and finding the true "Me".
The highest state is believed to be a state of 'no-self', where
neither self-worth nor self-importance have any real meaning.
6. Behavioral ethics
The "Me" concept
Eternal reality of the universal truth: self-liberation through getting

rid of the false "Me" and discovering the true "Me"
"Me" is here and now. The true Me in every human being is a part
of the Divine that need to become apparent. True Me is given
and doesnt have to be cognizable.
Relationship with Religion
Integration
Opposition
Search for Absolute Truth
Systemic approach all events in the universe are
More focused on individual events and the role of the

person
Searching outside yourself - through research and

analysis
"The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to
believe." ~ H.L.Mencken
interconnected
Search for Truth & Fundamental

Research
Searching inside yourself by becoming a part of the

universe through meditation and right living
"Though he should live a hundred years, not seeing the Truth
Sublime; yet better, indeed, is the single day's life of one who sees
the Truth Sublime." ~ Buddha
The truth is given is does not to have be proved.

The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research
isweaker.
The truth needs to be proved.

The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research
isstronger.
Future
Your future is determined by your deeds today.

"Study the past if you would like to divine the future."
~ Confucius
Beliefs and Values
The true key is inside. The inner world of a human being
and his or her ability to control and develop it is of the

highest value. The way to the top is inside yourself,
through self-development.
"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man

understands what will sell." ~ Confucius
"By chasing desires you will meet only the outer surface."
~ Lao Tzu
Individualism / Collectivism
A human being is an integral part of the universe and the society.

People are fundamentally connected. Duty towards all others is a
very important matter.
Collectivism is stronger.
Improvement / Evolution
Radical Innovation / Revolution
Your future is unknown, it was predetermined by God and is

not much influenced by your deeds.
"You can never plan the future by the past." ~ Edmund Burke
The main values are success and achievement. These that can be
achieved in many ways, but rarely through developing inner
strength. The majority of success and achievement criteria have an
external nature (money, faith, popularity, etc.). The way to the top is
through active outside intervention.
"Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in
the best activity, which is contemplative." ~ Aristotle
A human being has an individualistic nature and is an independent

part of the universe and the society.Individualism is
stronger.
Cyclic development, hence improvement is a never ending
Linear development, hence improvement has a goal. Development
journey that has no limits.
stops when the goal is reached.
The fundamentals of the status quo should not be questioned. The

culture of considering and introducing radical changes is weaker.
The fundamentals of the status quo can and often should

bequestioned. The culture of considering and introducing radical
changes is stronger.
Keep Your Computer-tired Eyes Healthy

Passion & Venturing
Entrepreneurial creativity and venturing is contained by the habit

to control one's passions.
Entrepreneurial venturing is encouraged emotionally.
"Nothing is ever achieved by reasonable men." J Fred Bucy of Texas

"Desires are the cause of suffering. If desire, which lies at the route
Instruments
of all human passion, can be removed, then passion will die out and "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm... Always do
all human suffering will be ended." ~ Buddhism
what you are afraid to do... Do not go where the path may lead, go
"Vain indeed is all overweening pride in the conquest even of the
instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo
entire universe if one has not conquered one's own passions." ~ Sri
Emerson
Aurobindo
"If you want to succeed, you have to forge new paths and avoid
borrowed ones." ~ John Rockfeller
Achievement & Winning
Winning is inside yourself. >>>
Winning is outside yourself.
"Though he should conquer a thousand men in the battlefield a

thousand times, yet he, indeed, who would conquer himself is the
noblest victor." ~ Buddha
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is
mighty." ~ Lao Tzu
"The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self."
Mohammad
Implementation
Spiritual and missionary approach.
"You're not a star until they can spell your name in Karachi."
~ Roger Moore
"Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties,
passing from one stop of success to another, forming new wishes
and seeing them gratified."
~ Samuel Johnson
"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is
because we do not dare that they are difficult."
Pragmatic and emotional approach.
"To create and develop without any feelings of ownership, to work

and guide without any expectation and control, is the best quality"
~ Lao Tzu
To achieve self-liberation and nirvana you need to perform your
duties without expecting any reward for it. ~ Vedanta, Hinduism
"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and

play." ~ Arnold Toynbee
"Since most of us spend our lives doing ordinary tasks, the most
important thing is to carry them out extraordinary well." ~ Henry
David Thoreau
"Action can be achieved by inaction, where the result is achieved by

"Not-Me" ~ Zen
"Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in

execution." ~ Brian Tracy
Goals & Key to Success
Spiritual
Materialistic
"Virtuous life and adherence to performing your duties."
~ Confucianism
"The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but

even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose." ~Confucius
"If you really want everything, then give up everything."
~ Lao Tzu
"He is able who thinks he is able." ~ Buddha
Living Principles
Virtue
"Be satisfied with whatever you have, and enjoy the same. When you
come to know that you have everything, and you are not short of
anything, then the whole world will be yours." ~ Lao Tzu
"The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the
"The secret of success in life, and subsequently of making money, is

to enjoy your work. If you do, nothing is hard work no matter how
many hours you put in." ~ Sir Billy Butlin
"Success is that old ABC ability, breaks and courage."
~ Charles Luckman
"Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the
quality that most frequently makes for success."
~ Dale Carnegie
Ethic
"Refrain from doing ill; for one all powerful reason, lest our children
should copy our misdeeds; we are all to prone to imitate whatever is
base and depraved."
~ Juvenal
deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens intocharacter.
So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from
love born out of concern for all beings."
~ Buddha
Establishing Control Over Your
Emotions
Through meditation
Leadership
Spiritual; walking behind people; silence is golden.
A man can separate his/her mind from his/her emotions and control
them. ~ Taoism
"In order to guide people, the leader must put himself behind them.
Thus when he is ahead they feel no hurt." ~ Lao Tzu
"There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated

from right living."
~ David Starr Jordan
Through analysis
"I can control my passions and emotions if I can understand their
nature." ~ Spinosa
Hands-on; walking ahead of people; speech is golden.

"Leadership is done from in front. Never ask others to do what you,
if challenged, would not be willing to do yourself."
~ Xenophon

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Eastern Philosophy

1. Feeling oneself as an element of the Divine

3. Circular view of the universe, based on the perception of

5. Self-dedication to the goal (life vision, success, happiness,

Eternal reality of the universal truth: self-liberation through getting

Relationship with Religion

Search for Absolute Truth

Systemic approach all events in the universe are

More focused on individual events and the role of the

Searching outside yourself - through research and

Search for Truth & Fundamental

Searching inside yourself by becoming a part of the

The truth is given is does not to have be proved.

The truth needs to be proved.

Your future is determined by your deeds today.

Beliefs and Values

The true key is inside. The inner world of a human being

and his or her ability to control and develop it is of the

"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man

A human being is an integral part of the universe and the society.

Your future is unknown, it was predetermined by God and is

A human being has an individualistic nature and is an independent

Cyclic development, hence improvement is a never ending

Linear development, hence improvement has a goal. Development

journey that has no limits.

stops when the goal is reached.

The fundamentals of the status quo should not be questioned. The

The fundamentals of the status quo can and often should

Keep Your Computer-tired Eyes Healthy

Entrepreneurial creativity and venturing is contained by the habit

Entrepreneurial venturing is encouraged emotionally.

"Nothing is ever achieved by reasonable men." J Fred Bucy of Texas

Achievement & Winning

Winning is inside yourself. >>>

Winning is outside yourself.

"Though he should conquer a thousand men in the battlefield a

Spiritual and missionary approach.

Pragmatic and emotional approach.

"To create and develop without any feelings of ownership, to work

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and

"Action can be achieved by inaction, where the result is achieved by

"Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in

Goals & Key to Success

"The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but

"The secret of success in life, and subsequently of making money, is

Spiritual; walking behind people; silence is golden.

"There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated

Hands-on; walking ahead of people; speech is golden.

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