The document explores the contrasting western and eastern concepts of the self, emphasizing the analytical, monotheistic, individualistic, and materialistic nature of the western self, whereas the eastern self is rooted in Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, focusing on oneness, self-realization, and interconnectedness. It details Hindu beliefs about karma and reincarnation, Buddhist teachings on suffering and the eightfold path, as well as Confucian and Taoist philosophies on relationships and harmony with nature. Collectively, these perspectives illustrate differing views on identity, existence, and personal fulfillment across cultures.

1. The Western and
Eastern Concept of the
Self

2. 1. WESTERN SELF AS ANALYTIC
• The Western way of thinking is analytic-
deductive with emphasis on the causal links
(part-to-whole relationships)
• The whole is understood when differentiated into
parts
• One must categorize and make distinctions to
pursue cause

3. 2. WESTERN SELF AS MONOTHEISTIC
• The belief in one Supreme Being coexisting with
the universe condenses the supernatural and
human capabilities into bipolarity of both
qualities of existence and categories of identity
and experience

4. 3. WESTERN SELF AS INDIVIDUALISTIC
• Western individualism exhibits the coexistence
of favorable and unfavorable conditions inherent
in personal freedom
• Right to individual freedom provides
opportunities for self-fulfillment, it also
increases the likelihood of experiencing
alienation and frustration

5. 4. WESTERN SELF AS MATERIALISTIC AND
RATIONALISITC
• The Western way of thinking is focused on
material “things” and favors a rational-empirical
approach over magical and superstitious
explanation of immaterial “things”

6. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Hinduism
• The Hindu concept is expounded
in Vedanta, a major school of
Indian thought based on
Upanishads, the classical Indian
philosophical treatises
• Brahman is known to be the
absolute reality

7. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Hinduism
• Atman (soul or spirit), the true
knowledge of self, is identical to
Brahman

8. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Human suffering
• Result of failure to realize the
distinction between the true self
(permanent and unchanging) and
the non-true self
• The goal of every person is to
have a knowledge of the true
reality

9. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Self-realization
• Being united to all-embracing
Brahman
• The realization of true selfhood
will result in a complete
dissolution of individual identity

10. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
KARMA
• Most important doctrine of
Hinduism
• Individual actions will lead to
either good or bad outcomes in
one’s life
• People get exactly what they
deserve

11. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
KARMA
• If you do good things, you will
be rewarded, if you do bad, you
will be punished
• Therefore, the individual is the
only one responsible for the
consequences of his or her
actions

12. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
KARMA
• Hindus believe that Atman, being
an immortal soul, continues to
be reincarnated from lifetime to
lifetime until its freed from the
cycle of rebirth and reaches a
state of nirvana or non-birth

13. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
KARMA
• Karma does not end with a
body’s death, so its influence
may extend through incarnation
of the soul

14. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Buddhism
• Siddharta Gautama, known as the
Buddha, is the founder of
Buddhism
• The root word of Buddhism is
Budh meaning awake
• To be awake may imply that
opening the eyes would lead to
understanding more about the self
and the world

15. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Buddhism
• Every person has the seed of
enlightenment or the potential to
be a Buddha

16. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. Life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by
attachment to desires;
3. Suffering can be eliminated;
and
4. Elimination of suffering is
through the practice of the
Eightfold Path

17. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
EIGHTFOLD PATH
1. Right view
2. Right aspiration
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

18. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
In Buddhist philosophy, man is
just a title for the summation of
five parts;
1. Matter
2. Sensation
3. Perception
4. Mental constructs
5. Consciousness

19. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
In Buddhist philosophy, man is
just a title for the summation of
five parts;
1. Matter
2. Sensation
3. Perception
4. Mental constructs
5. Consciousness

20. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Buddhism
• Man has no self nor a soul.
There is only nothing and all
else is an illusion
• There is nothing permanent but
change
• Ignorance is the cause of life’s
misery, births and rebirths

21. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
NIRVANA
• A state of transcendence devoid
of self-refences
• This can be achieved through
meditation

22. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Confucianism
• The Confucian doctrines are
found in the Analects
(Conversations of Confucius)
• The core of Confucian thought is
the Golden Rule or the principle
of reciprocity: “Do not do unto
others what you would not want
others to do to you.”

23. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Five Cardinal Relationships
1. Between ruler and minister
2. Between father and son
3. Between husband and wife
4. Between brothers
5. Between friends
Hence, the self is known as a
relational self

24. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Self-realization
- An important feature in the
Confucian thought that an
individual should consider as
his/her greatest mission through
the help of self-cultivation

25. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Self-cultivation
-knowing one’s role in the society
and acting accordingly
Harmonious relationship
-achieved when individuals follow
the rules of proper social
behavior

26. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Taoism
• Chinese counterculture
• Rejects the Confucian idea of a
relational self
• The self is an extension of the
cosmos not of social
relationships

27. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Tao
• Commonly regarded as the
Nature that is the foundation of
all that exists
• Selflessness is attained when
the distinction between the “I”
and “other” dissolves

28. EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Tao
• Taoists believe that simplicity,
spontaneity, and harmony with
nature should govern one’s life
• There should be unity and
harmony among opposing
elements: the Yin and Yang
• Hence, there is oneness of the
Tao