Noble Truths in order to start on the journey.
2. The Right aspiration: This is the decision making process in
where we decide to take this path of liberation.
3. Right Speech: We must speak in truth and not lie, gossip,
tease, etc.
4. Right Behavior: Do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not
be unchaste, do not take drugs or drink intoxicants.
5. Right Livelihood: From what I take from the book this means to
have a good job or to occupy yourself with things that are good.
6. Right effort: You must use "moral exertion" as stated in Smiths
book.
7. Righ mindfulness: self-examine yourself and be aware of
yourself, be aware of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc.
8. Right absorption: to do yoga or meditate and allow things to
flow into you.
At the end of this you find Nirvana which as stated in the book is
like the wind and can not be described, yet is eternal, comfort, and
all things that relate to a Godhead without it being a god. As
Buddhism is atheistic.
After Buddhas death a split was formed into the religion into two
major groups, the Theravadas and the Mahayanists. I will lay out
the major differences as stated in Smith's book.
Theravada's believe that progress is made in the individual effort,
for Mahayanists it is a "field phenomenom" or what I take is
something that just happens"
Theravadins see individuals as on their own in the universe with no
god or even the buddhas there to help them in their quest where
Mahayanists believe that they are their to help them.
Theravadaists believe the major part of enlightenment is wisdom
where Mahayana's believe it is compassion.
The "sangha or the Buddhist monastic order is at the heart of
Theresavads. Where Mahayanists believe the religion is for
laypeople.
Theravadins believe that the perfected disciple is one who goes into
nirvana alone where mahayanists is someone who reaches the brink of
nirvana pulls out and offers it to others.
Theravadins believe Buddha was a saint and for Mahayanists believe
he was a saviour.
married at one point in time. However, he decided to be a tutor and was immediately recognized as a great teacher of a great philosophy. His death even greatly furthered his thoughts and views
on life. As is today that every Chinese school teaches their students to raise their clasped hands each morning toward "a table in the schoolroom that bore a plaque bearing Confucius' name." as in Smith's book. In order to understand the society in which Confucionism was spread we must know some points of traditional
societies as told in Smith's book. A. "The degree to which tradition rules them is astonishing; there are Eskimo and aboriginal tribes that do not have words for disobedience. B. Tradition exerts its influence tacitly-spontaneously and unthinkingly. No laws are formulated or penalties affixed; no plans for moral education are
intentially devised. Group expectations are so strong that the young internalize them automatically." This goes to show how it's pretty much imbedded in their moral and social code. However, in
the days of Confucius the tradition was going south and people were switching from being group-conscious to being self-conscious. For Confucius all of them solutions that were presented to fix the
problems were not impressive. He wanted to go back to the traditional way and felt it could fix everything. There are five ideals in Confucian thought as follows:
1. Jen is what defines an ideal relationship between individuals. In public it creates diligience and in private life courtesy, being unselfish, and having empathy towards your fellow companion(s).
2. Chun tzu as best translated to the superior person or humanity at it's best. It is the direct opposite of a pretty person. Someone that has extreme respect for themselves which creates a respect for others, someone that has an immense care for others.
3. Li has two meanings. First is the way things should be done. Basically a list of doctrines, or manners I guess to tell how things should be properly done. The other meaning is rites which talks about rites to do things.
4. Te literally means the power by which men are ruled. Basically it's the power of morality.
5. Wen "this refers to the arts of peace" like music, poetry, and
etc.