The document contrasts Eastern and Western cultural values and philosophies. Some key differences discussed include Eastern traditions emphasizing inner spiritual development and viewing the self as part of a greater cosmic unity, while Western traditions emphasize individual achievement, success, and analyzing the external world. Religion also takes a more integrated role in daily life in Eastern cultures compared to the separation of religion and public life in Western secular societies.

1. Life, Cultural Values and
Philosophies
Eastern vs. western

2. values
• Value: the importance or worth of something for
someone
• Value: how useful or important something is
• Values: the beliefs people have about
what is right and wrong and what is
most important in life, which control
their behavior

3. Binary Opposition taken for granted
• Black and white
• Eastern and western
• Third world and first world
• Barbarians and civilized people (common
sense?)
• Uneducated and educated (common sense?)
• Stupid and clever (common sense?)

4. The Whole World = Eastern
+ Western
Understanding Eastern and
Western Worlds Conventionally

5. Eastern vs. Western > Main Schools
• Eastern:
Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Integral
Yoga, Islam, Taoism, Zen
• Western:
Christianity**, Rational , Scientific, Logical
schools

6. Eastern vs. Western > Main Principles
EASTERN
• Cosmological unity
• Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the
realities that surround us
• Circular view of the universe, based on the perception of eternal
recurrence
• Inner-world dependent
• Self-liberation from the false "Me“ and finding the true
• "Me ". The highest state is believed to be a state of 'no-sel f ',
where neither self - worth nor self – importance have any real
meaning.
• Behavioral ethics

7. Eastern vs. Western > Main Principles
WESTERN
• Feeling oneself as an element of the Divine
• Life is a service (to the God, money, business, etc.)
• Linear view of the universe and life, based on the
Christi an philosophy where everything has its
beginning and the end.
• Outer-world dependent
• Self - dedication to the goal (life vision, success,
happiness, etc.)

8. Eastern vs. Western > Defining “Self”
EASTERN
• What is “me”?
• Eternal reality of the universal truth: self - liberation through getting
rid of the false "Me” and discovering the true "Me
WESTERN
• "Me" is here and now.
• The true “Me” in every human being is apart of the Divine that
need to become apparent. True “Me” is given and doesn’t have to
be cognizable.

9. Eastern vs. Western > Religion
EASTERN
Religion is integrated to ordinary social and political
activities
WESTERN
Religion is separated from ordinary social and
political activities (Secular)

10. Eastern vs. Western > Search for
Absolute Truth, related to God
EASTERN
• Systemic approach – all events in the universe are interconnected
• Searching inside yourself – by becoming a part of the universe
through meditation, prayer, right living, and things like that
WESTERN
• More focused on individual events and the role of the person
• Searching outside yourself - through research and analysis

11. Eastern vs. Western > Search for Truth
and the Importance of Research
EASTERN
• The truth is given is does not to have be proved.
• The culture of fundamental research is weaker
• WESTERN
• The truth needs to be proved.
• The culture of fundamental research is stronger

12. Eastern vs. Western > Future
EASTERN
• Your future is determined by your deeds today.
• WESTERN
• Your future is unknown, it was predetermined by
God and is not much influenced by your deeds

13. Beliefs and Values
Eastern
• The true key is inside. The inner world of a human being and his or
her ability to control and develop it is of the highest value.
• The way to the top is inside yourself, through self-development.
Western
• The main values are success and achievement. These that can be
achieved in many ways, but rarely through developing inner
strength.
• The majority of success and achievement criteria have an external
nature (money, faith, popularity, etc.)
• The way to the top is through active outside intervention.

14. Individualism vs. Collectivism
Eastern
• A human being is an integral part of the universe and the
society. People are fundamentally connected. Duty towards
all others is a very important matter.
• Collectivism is stronger (mutual assistance).
Western
• A human being has an individualistic nature and is an
independent part of the universe and the society.
• Individualism is stronger.

15. Improvement, Evolution, and
Achievement
EASTERN
• Cyclic development, hence improvement is a never ending
• Journey that has no limits.
• Winning is inside yourself. It doesn’t need
acknowledgement.
WESTERN
• Linear development, hence improvement has a goal.
• Development stops when the goal is reached.
• Winning is outside yourself. It needs acknowledgements
from others.

16. Leadership
EASTERN
• Spiritual; walking behind people;
• silence is golden.
WESTERN
• Hands-on; walking ahead of people ; speech
is golden.