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I. The main purpose of our study of Oriental
Philosophy is to introduce some important ideas of Eastern
philosophies and to show how these ideas are of significant
practical import in everyday life.
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A. This short course of study neglects explication
of specific religious tenets and technical terms.
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B. Much of the language used here is considered
technically incorrect; however, as an introduction to Oriental
philosophy, my intent is for the language to be pedagogically sound.
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II. The following aspects of Oriental philosophy
are not covered in these notes.
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A. Significant events in Oriental philosophy will
be referenced, but this course is not a study of the history of
religions.
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1. These notes lack many important names, dates,
movements, and social analyses essential to an understanding of
Oriental philosophy and religion.
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2. Historical and religions backgrounds of Eastern
philosophy have been kept to a minimum.
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3. Even so, some background information is
essential to understand and interpret the philosophies.
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B. These notes do not offer a comprehensive or
balanced view of the religions and philosophies described. Instead,
it is hoped that they provide a basis for further study and
clarification.
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1. If you are interested in further study, some
good places to start include the links to Oriental philosophies,
various encyclopedia entries, and introductory texts in the field.
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2. A balanced view of these philosophies is
undoubtedly beyond the scope of any one person. As Huston Smith
suggests, if we were to consider only Christianity, we would mention
the following as being aspects of that movement.
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a. Eastern Orthodox Christians who worship in
ornate cathedrals in contrast to the Quakers who shun steeples.
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b. Christian mystics in contrast to scientific
Christians.
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c. Christian Holy Rollers in contrast to Christian
Unitarians.
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d. The Inquisition, the Crusades in contrast to
the Sermon on the Mount.
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C. This is not a course on comparative religions.
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1. We do not assume that one philosophy is
superior to another--all these philosophies offer insights.
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2. Our study eschews any such questions of
superiority of any of these views to provide "the inside road
to truth." Such questions show parochialism similar to the
comment "Only in Montana can you have weather like this"
or similar to the loyalty given to a state or pro football team by
local peoples.
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D. The subject of these notes is limited to some
interesting features of the following philosophies because they are
relevant to the modern Western mind, they all exhibit certain
universal principles, and they all have practical applications for
everyday life.
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Hinduism |
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Confucianism |
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Buddhism and Zen |
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Taoism |
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