4.0.3 The Great Eastern Religions - Overview

Version 1.3 March 2013                                               (Previous Version)

The wisdom of the great east Eurasian religions generally comes from poets or teachers, rather than prophets or saviours.  Their sacred books contain some wonderful poems, stories and inspiring passages, as well as passages that were reflections of the times but are no longer suitable as guides for our behaviour.

People from these faith backgrounds will sensibly approve of some texts and ignore others, while also obtaining guidance from other sources.  We can all be inspired by stories from these traditions, obtain insight from their contemplative aspects, and reflect on the nature of self that they explore.

Hinduism, encompassing a wide variety of beliefs, began with the Rig Veda poems around 1,000 BCE, followed later by the Upanishads, exploring ways to achieve nirvana by merging the self with the All.  The Bhagavad Gita, the most famous Hindu text, revolves around a discussion of duty, acting according to our nature as a leader, warrior, merchant or worker.

Taoism may have begun with Laozi around 600 BCE.  It focuses on the Dao, a concept difficult to grasp but related to the balance of nature, Yin and Yang, as recorded in the Book of Changes (the “I Ching�), keeping us in touch with the environment, compassion, moderation and humility.  It says we must live in tune with our station.  Popular Taoism involves beliefs in supernatural spirits and immortals.

Jainism, which originated in India about 800 to 500 BCE, had a prominent teacher Mahāvīra, and emphasizes non-violence (ahimsa), which we can still applaud.  Right vision, knowledge and conduct are taught, to obtain liberation from the cycle of birth and death (reincarnation).

Confucianism began around 500 BCE with K’ung-fu-tsu, whose teachings are recorded in the Analects.  It emphasizes respect in dealing with all people and the benefits of order.  It popularly involves prayers to the ancestors, and its attachment to tradition can hinder personal growth.

Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, around 450 BCE, grew out of Hinduism, but tells us  the self is an illusion and we gain enlightenment by truly understanding this.  Its teachings, in the Dhamma, include the way of mindfulness, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path: rise above your ego to reduce suffering.  But it retains false beliefs in reincarnation and karma.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the 1400s that believes in faith and justice, and emphasizes self-control, virtue, and the courage to defend the rights of all.

We can no longer believe in reincarnation or karma, or seek nirvana in this life or another.

We work through the next level of detail on each of the above issues (more).  After considering this evidence, we’ve looked for a way to state our conclusions briefly, and we come to the following summary.

Is this the best way to state our conclusions in this area?  Click on feedback, or add a comment below, if you can improve the substance or the phrasing.

   more                                                                            Statement 23

There are some excellent stories and brilliant teachings in these religions, which remain useful all around the world today, and in that sense some people say they still speak some kind of truth.  But the supernatural beliefs of these religions are both unprovable and unnecessary.  We no longer restrict our moral duties to fit the station in life we were born into.  The grand narratives of the great eastern religions ultimately don’t provide meaning and purpose.