Philosophy 312: Oriental Philosophy
Our Approach to the Study of Oriental Philosophy
Abstract: The general focus of
our study of Oriental Philosophy is characterized.
I. This course is an attempt to expand our
awareness beyond our Western thought and to include some different
ways to see and understand the world..
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A. The world has almost become a global
village--you can patch through a telephone call to almost anyone in
the world in a few hours or actually be there within the day.
The Internet, as presently constituted, treats national barriers to
communications as superfluous and obsolete. Shortwave radio
immediately connects us to different cultures.
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B. We have to take each other seriously now; for
the first timein history, we are truly citizens of the world. Kipling's
famous statement, "East is East and West is West, and never the
twain shall meet until heaven and earth come together on God's
judgment day" has fallen by the wayside as a historical
curiosity.
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II. Our study of philosophies of the East will
center on
spiritual discipline, especially the techniques of self-awareness
and self-realization.
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A. The mutual exchange of philosophies in the past
century has led to many oversimplifications and
misunderstandings. It is my hope that these notes provide a
basis for an introductory study which is reasonably basic and more
helpful than not.
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1. The view is assumed here that things in the
world are neither bad no good in themselves but are a product of
human minds and purposes.
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2. This course represents a genuine effort to show
the relevance of Oriental philosophy, practically and
psychologically. The basic teachings covered are not
especially academic and scholastic.
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3. Even so, some historical and technical background information is
essential to understand and interpret the philosophies.
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B. If we obtain a nonintellectual and intuitive
understanding of the basic teaching and techniques of a few of the
practices of the East, I believe our lives will be significantly
enriched.
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