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Eastern Philosophy...

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Happiness Worldwide development of philosophy Worldwide philosophies has started to develop between 5th and 6th century before Christ, in Greece, China, and India. These didn’t have contact with each other, however started philosophy around the same time.

Greece (Western) (RATIO) People believed in many different Gods and stress on mythology. Priest were very important to people so people were not really independent. At a certain point philosophy started to develop. Socrates: “We do not need to depend upon a certain system to find the truth”. “If you think in the right way, you can discover the truth” so you’re completely independent. This was a new way of thinking. Socrates put a lot of emphasis on logos, “we need to think rational and logical”. In the west, this became very important. Key word western ph.: ratio (based upon intellectual thinking).

China (ETHICAL, SOCIAL) Confusius stood up and developed philosophy at about same time as Socrates. Ethical, social aspect became very important.

India (SPIRITUAL) Sophism was already very important and this was a very sophisticated philosophy. Buddha stood up and found sophism way too complicated for “normal” people. Main difference with Socrates: spiritual sight. Not logos or ratio, not ethical, social sight but spiritual sight.

What is Happiness? How can we become happy? Many people in the west have a good quality of life, but still suffer, they are not happy.

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Enemies of Happiness There is a very high degree of stress and loneliness. They seem to be the enemies of happiness.

Stress So: how do we get rid of stress? Stress clinics exist and often rely on mindfulness: something that became very popular, but is nothing new and is based upon old Buddhism books.

Loneliness A lot of old people feel alone. For both of the problems, Buddhism gives an answer.

Buddhism The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet but lives in India. Everybody seems wanting to meet the Dalai Lama. Why? Karl Jaspers: German philosopher wrote a book about four men: Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus. He was convinced of the fact that those four men have had most influence of all. We’re going to talk about them all as philosophies, not as religions. Buddha and Confucius started as a philosophy, but later on they turned into religions. Why? People want hope, want to pray, want to sacrifice because they’re in great need. Buddhism believes that many problems exist because of craving. There’s a distinction between desiring and craving. “It would be nice to…” vs “I really want it”. Buddha was born in India/Nepal and his life exemplified the Buddhist way of life. He lived according to his own philosophy in order to “become free from suffering”. He showed that his philosophy worked for him. Buddhism does not feel the need to convince other people about their philosophy. You’re not less because you’re not. There are not any dogmas. Theravada is a body of oral teaching: something that has been written down by Buddha’s disciples. Buddha himself has not written down anything (just like Jesus, Confucius, Socrates). While Buddha lived, the developed country of India changed a lot: farmers turned into city people, manufacturer workers, traders. The society became more complex.

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Whenever a society changes, new philosophies will develop as the set of values is going to change as well. Buddha was not the only one developing a new philosophy. All wanted to respond to “How do we have to cope with suffering and death?”. Certain said “don’t be afraid of dying, when you die there’s something within you that will always remain”. This unified unchanging self and independent permanent reality appears in a lot of philosophies (Christianity: the Soul & Heaven). At the other side some philosophers said there was no solution for it so that we just have to accept and live with it. Buddha had a different view: he didn’t believe in anything permanent but didn’t believe that there’s no solution as well. He developed a philosophy of the middle of these two extremes (permanent vs. nothing). Buddha’s mother had to possibilities to raise Buddha. 1. Raise child within walls of palace and give it a perfect life. He will become a political leader. 2. Raise child outside the walls of the palace and see all problems out there. In this case, he will become a spiritual leader. She chose option 1 because she thought he’d gain more money by being a political leader. But Buddha fled and met a sick man. This was the first time in life he saw someone ill. He asked “What’s the matter with the man?”, “Can I become ill myself one day?” (yes). Second day he saw a very old man and asked “What’s the matter with the man?”, “Can I become old myself one day?” (yes). Third day he saw a dead man and asked “Is this sickness? Is this age?”, he experienced death for the very first time “Will I be dead as well?”, response: “Maybe you’ll be ill, maybe you’ll grow old, but one thing is sure: you will die”. Fourth day he saw a happy man, realized that he could become peaceful as well. Then he decided to leave the palace, his wife and baby and to go and look for inner peace himself. “How can you remain peaceful when realizing that all those bad things can happen to you?”. He looked for an answer in many different ways and tried to follow a few people (e.g. monks who started to become peaceful by mortification (no sleeping, no drinking, no eating)). He wasn’t able to find a good answer so found the answer himself. He dealt with an existential crisis. Buddha went sitting on a tree and decided to stay there until he found the proper answer by reflective meditation (making your mind completely empty, stop thinking and focus on one question). He was doubting about what to do: become a teacher and tell people how to do this? He wanted to help people find the answer themselves, not convince them about a certain answer. Example: as long as you don’t smell a rose yourself, you

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can’t completely understand the sense by being taught about it. In the end, you need to experience things yourself.

Form & Process Everything has two fundamental aspects: form and process. The form gives in-form-ation. Besides the form, there is a process. A rose is changing, growing, disappearing… For this process energy is needed. This energy can’t get lost (physics) so things are always changing and passing on energy. The form changes but the energy within always remains the same.

Key Insight When Sitting Under Tree Nothing exists separately. Nothing is permanent. There’s a connection between everything and everything is changing all the time. Everything is a matter of processes.

The Truth of what Suffering (Duhkha) Is 1. 1st Noble Truth. What is suffering (duhkha)? a. Ordinary Suffering. If people are ill, old, die, are bored, get separated from loved ones, unsatisfied desires. b. Resistance to Change. People don’t want to change so whenever they change (what is always happening), they can’t cope with it. c. Can’t Satisfy Our Needs. d. Human Attend to Construct a Permanent and Unchanging Self. We want to become a person and remain that person. nd 2. 2 Noble Truth. The truth of the conditioned arising of suffering? 3. 3rd Noble Truth. Suffering can be eliminated. 4. 4th Noble Truth. The Noble Eightfold Path: path to get free from suffering, to live a good life. Living according to these rules will get you free from suffering. a. (1) Right Views. We can get insight through Traditional Knowledge (books etc.), but also by experiencing things, doing things ourselves (Direct Insight). b. (2) Right Aspiration/Intention. You need the desire to get free from craving. The will becomes very important. You should be willing to get free from suffering. You should be willing to become happy. You should be willing to love. You should know what you want, because if not, you won’t get it. c. (3) Right Speech. You need to know when you have to remain silent. In the West, there’s a feeling to talk all the time. In far Eastern countries, that’s different.

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d. (4) Right Conduct/Action. You should also behave in the right way. In all circumstances, you promote peace and happiness. No cheating, no stealing, no killing… You respect the wellbeing of all living things. e. (5) Right Means of Profession. Make your living in the right way. You should be sure that you have the right set of values when you make your choice of profession. Earning a lot of money might not be a good value. Your profession should add something of value to your life: be something for someone. f. (6) Right Endeavor/Effort. Right intention of doing something. Correlation between what you’re doing and what you’re thinking. g. (7) Right Mindfulness. Concentrate on what you’re doing at one moment. E.g. not using your mobile phone when talking to someone. h. (8) Right Meditation/Concentration. If you can’t see things how they really are, meditation can be a good solution. It can make your mind completely empty or it can be to focus on one thing (as Buddha did).

Four Attitudes Towards Others 1. Metta (Loving Kindness). You desire that things go well for the other person. Or do you always feel like you want to better than someone else? Though, you should wish the same for someone as you want for yourself. 2. Karuna (Compassion). Being touched by the suffering of the others. This combined with Metta, makes sense. If you see someone suffering, e.g. having things not going well, you will suffer yourself as well. But you don’t make other people happy because you want to be happy yourself! 3. Mudita (Sympathetic Joy). Being happy with something, enjoying things, feeling grateful, laughing, smiling. Whatever the conditions are, you always have enough reasons to feel happy. Always realize that there are plenty of things to be happy about. 4. Upekkha (Equanimity). Do not look away from certain situations. Whatever the circumstances are, you can give them your full attention. Imagine you are being confronted with a sick, suffering person: don’t flee away from it. Link it with 3rd attitude: even if seeing his suffering, you will find enough reasons to be happy with meeting him.

Further Development of Buddha’s Philosophy Buddha’s last words: “Strive Unremittingly”. He puts a lot of power in someone else’s capabilities. Later on, Buddha’s philosophy turned into a religion. People want something to “hold on”, to pray for in times of huge problems. Make the distinction between philosophy and religion! Philosophy evolved before religion.

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Buddhism almost died in India, Hinduism became more popular. The kast system is not combinable with Buddhism. Buddhism went to China.

Philosophy vs. Religion No Buddhist is a missionary in Buddhist Philosophy. Buddhists are free. See previous slide.

Variations Zen Zen is a part of Buddhism. Bodhidharma, the founder of zen, found Buddhism too complicated, they focused too much on procedures on ‘how to become free of suffering”. E.g. finger pointing at the moon: you should not say how to do things, you have to do them immediately. It’s a simpler form of Buddhism. Get your full attention, right here and right now. Also Seneca was well aware of this. He defined two types of people. 1. Sapientes. Wise people. They master their own time and can decide yourself what to do when. Only possible by giving full attention to the very moment. 2. Occupati. People who are always busy. Feeling that they have to do a lot of things which they don’t want to do themselves. They have the feeling that time is ‘taken’ from them: they’re not the master of their own time. Victims of time.

Leo Tolstoy Three questions by Tolstoy. 1. What Is the Right Time for Every Action? Now. It is the only time when we have any power. 2. Who Are the Most Necessary People? The person you are with at that very moment. 3. What’s the Most Important Thing to Do? To do good.

Albert Einstein Einstein didn’t think that people are isolated from the rest, which is some prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires.

Hermann Hesse Wrote a book about Buddha, Siddharta. Reflects on Buddha and learns us a lot about Buddhism. Eastern Philosophy 2015 – 2016 – Tuur Desloovere

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The Smile of Buddha The smile of Buddha is very typical for Buddhism. There should always be a balance between our emotional reactions and our rational reactions. As well, between our emotional brain and our cognitive brain. There should be “harmony”. Distinction between a real smile and artificial smile. A real smile comes from a different smile in our brain and can only be produced if we really feel in harmony. Our brain can’t produce a smile in which we are going to use our eyes as well by just faking it. So a real smile proves that the brain is in harmony.

Epicurus Epicurean =/= Epicurus’ philosophy. Epicurus wanted a really simple life and was convinced of the fact that luxury causes a lot of trouble. Stress on need to eliminate suffering (which we cause ourselves) and importance of sensual pleasure. Was convinced of the fact that one of the ways to become happy is to become a philosopher (‘of your own life’). There are two questions people ask themselves constantly: 1. What will make me happy? People don’t know whether they’re happy or not, they ask themselves if it’s important. 2. What will make me healthy? Not a doctor, but try to become better yourself by realizing what is good for your body and what is not. Then you can become much healthier ‘yourself’. Epicurus knew that people are very bad in answering these questions and suggested them to go talk to a philosopher. He lived together with his students in a commune just to help them become happy and healthy human beings. He suggested a relation between health and happiness: if your health isn’t good, you’re more likely to be unhappy and omgekeerd ook. He named three key parts of becoming happy and healthy (in order of importance): 1. Friendship Many philosophers consider this as a vital part of life. A friend can help you in asking yourself the right questions. It’s our friends who confirm our identity.

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With friends, we can be who we really are and not wear a mask. Companion is more important in a meal than what you’re going to eat. 2. Freedom People don’t have the feeling like they have freedom in front of them, because they have so many tasks to do. Solution: have a less complex life. We should go back to a simple life. He created a garden, a commune. Here, they could live free from the outside. Material things do not create the real identity of a person. 3. Thought People feel anxious a lot and they should not. Being afraid of something is an awful feeling and most of the time, what we’re anxious of is something we never meet in life. We’re afraid of things that never happen anyway. The solution here is ‘thought’: it calms the mind. People would not go to a doctor for mental problems, if they would write down what they’re anxious about. Writing might help removing. Talking (to good friends or good philosophers) as well might help. Those two things help people in ‘becoming happy’ and they help realizing that problems aren’t that big as you thought they were. a. Example: thinking about mortality. Do people worry about ‘not existing’ before birth? No. So why should we worry about existing after death? He divided things in: 1. Natural and necessary. friends, freedom, thought. 2. Natural but unnecessary. large house, banquets, fish. 3. Neither natural nor necessary. fame, power. Avoid acquiring what we do not need, will result in avoid regretting what we cannot afford. This can be done by imagining ourselves what it brought us only at the moment we have obtained it. See Toledo: text about Epicurus by Alain ….

Adam Smith The Invisible Hand: market in which everyone is fulfilling its own needs but creating prosperity at the very same time. The question he tried to answer: how come that some people are poor and others rich (in The Wealth of Nations). He has written about ‘how to become happy’ as well. Example: you go to a shop and want to steal something. As no one’s watching you, you think it’s okay. Smith says you still have the feeling that someone is! There’s always an “impartial spectator” in our own head. This is a certain sense

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of morality (born with or educated?). If we can live in peace with this impartial spectator, we can feel happy. Example: you have a neighbor and help her a lot. Just because you love her, you think she needs it and you enjoy it. Then you’re lovely. But is that help as valuable if you do it because you want her money, house? This will not make you feel as happy. People can praise you as much as you’d like. It will never make you as happy because you have to know your own intentions. Only when you do things for the right reasons you can become truly happy. See Toledo: text.

Jeremy Bentham The Panopticon: prison in the form of a circle. He was utilitarianist and wanted to design things that were ‘efficient’ and ‘practical’ for society. In the middle it had a watchtower. Like this, thousands of prisoners could have been watched by only a few people. Next to that, prisoners never knew when they were being watched. This is what he wanted to create: building with good utilitarian consequences. Happiness according to Bentham: absence of pain. He thought about ‘how to measure happiness’: 1. How long will it last? 2. How intense? 3. How likely is it that it will give rise to other pleasures? Examples: holiday (short term), driving in a nice car (happy feeling but a lot of sacrifices). The sources of pleasure do not matter (example: good book or gossip magazine) We do have a responsibility towards animals as well.

John Stuart Mill Often visited Bentham’s house so he has been influenced a lot by Bentham. However, he changed and developed Bentham’s philosophy. As a child, he was very smart. Biggest different: Mill says that it’s not the same ‘whether people read a good book or a magazine full of music’. If people have experienced both kinds of pleasures (‘higher’ and ‘lower’) they will always give more value to the higher pleasures. I the woman

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reading the magazine, at the moment she reads a good book will realize that the book gives her more happiness. On Liberty: society should give people freedom. Only then they can become flourishing and happy. Harm Principle: you can do whatever you want to in your life as long as you’re not hurting other human beings. Tyranny of the Majority. People should always be very aware of the fact that there are many social pressures upon them. Many people are prevented from doing what they want to do because of this. Equality of Genders.

Choice (Confucianism) In China, state exams are being organized. In one of these exams, it was asked if people would save their mother or their girlfriend in a fire. In Belgium, there’d be no ‘correct’ answer, however, in China, the correct answer was the mother. If you understand why, then you’ll understand Confucianism. A lot of China is linked with Confucianism and it’s very important to understand Confucianism in order to understand the Chinese culture. This proves that a philosophy can have a lot of impact on people (such as Socrates on our western thinking). Confucius is the same for China as Socrates is for us. The official ideology in China is Communism, very much influenced by Confucianism. However, the economic system isn’t communist anymore. Yu Dan wrote a book about Confucianism (a very old philosophy) and stil...