Oriental Philosophy

1.  One of the reasons why people are interested in the studies
of self-knowledge is because they want to find the meaning
of life, some strive to find the existential answers to:
 Who am I?
 Where do I come from?
 What’s the meaning of life?
 Most stop looking as they are absorbed by the daily
routine, life, work, etc., they remain identified or become
accustomed to a life that has been given to them…
However, there are people who find the answers and fill
their life with plenitude and happiness.

2.  Great teachings such as:
 Hinduism,
 Buddhism,
 Confucianism
 & Taoism
 or the knowledge of great wise men like the Buddha
(Siddhartha Gautama) who taught us with his own life the
causes of human suffering;
 or the great philosopher Confucius or the Chinese thinker
Lao Tzu who left us the great book of the Tao, or Hindu
Gods, etc.

3. ORIENTAL
PHILOSOPHY
Hinduism & Buddhism
By Jerome Gabon Tenedero

4. HINDUISM

5.  The metaphysical foundation of Hinduism, which
is expressed in both the Vedas and the Upanishads
is that Reality (Brahman) is One or Absolute,
changeless, perfect and eternal. The ordinary
human world of many separate and discrete
(finite) things (which our mind represents by our
senses) is an illusion.

6.  Through meditation and purity of mind, one can
experience their true Self which is Brahman, God,
the One infinite eternal thing which causes and
connects the many things. True enlightenment is
Self-realization, to experience the supreme reality
as Self.

11. BUDDHISM
On the Life of Buddha, Buddhist Thought & Practice

12.  Buddhism is a moral philosophy / religion based
upon the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (566 -
486 B.C.). Siddhartha Gautama became known as
the Buddha. 'Buddha' (from the ancient Indian
languages of Pali and Sanskrit) means "one who
has awakened". It is derived from the verbal root
"budh", meaning "to awaken" or "to be
enlightened," and "to comprehend."

13.  The Buddha offered metaphysical knowledge into
the nature of reality as well as a moral way of life.
The Middle Way is an important idea in Buddhist
thought and practice. To seek moderation and
avoid the extremes of self-indulgence and self-
mortification.

14.  He has seen Truth, has attained Truth, has known
Truth, has penetrated into Truth, has crossed over
doubt, is without wavering. Thus with right
wisdom he sees it as it is (yatha bhutam) ... The
Absolute Truth is Nibbana, which is Reality.
(Buddha, from the Dhatuvibhanga-sutta (No. 140) of
the Majjhima-nikaya).

15.  The Buddha taught that the nature of reality was
impermanent and interconnected. We suffer in life
because of our desire to transient things. Liberation
from suffering may come by training the mind and
acting according to the laws of karma (cause and
effect) i.e. with right action, good things will come
to you.

16. This teaching is known as the Four Noble Truths:
 Dukkha: Suffering is everywhere
 Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is
attachment or misplaced desire (tanha) rooted in
ignorance.
 Nirodha: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana
(the possibility of liberation exists for everyone).
 Maggo: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known
as the Noble Eightfold Path (right view, right thought, right
speech, right conduct, right vocation, right effort, right
attention and right concentration).

17. the Teaching of the Buddha
 I will teach you the Truth and the Path leading to the Truth.
 It is proper for you to doubt... do not go upon report... do
not go upon tradition… do not go upon hearsay…
 Not to do any evil, to cultivate the good, to purify one’s
mind.
 To speak no ill will, to do no harm, to practice self-restraint
according to the fundamental precepts, to be moderate in
eating, to live in seclusion, to devote oneself to higher
consciousness.