Encyclopedia - Eastern Philosophy: Encyclopedia - Eastern Philosophy
The usefulness of dividing philosophy into Western philosophy and other philosophies is open to challenge, not the least for speaking dow...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Eastern Philosophy: Encyclopedia Ii - Eastern Philosophy - Syntheses Of Eastern And Western Philosophy
There have been many modern attempts to integrate Western and Eastern philosophical traditions. German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedric...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Philosophy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Philosophy - Eastern Philosophy
In the West, the term Eastern philosophy refers very broadly to the various philosophies of "the East," namely Asia, including China, Ind...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Eastern Philosophy: Encyclopedia Ii - Eastern Philosophy - Philosophical And Religious Traditions
The following is an overview of the Eastern philosophic traditions. Each tradition has a separate article with more detail on sects, scho...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bundle Theory: Encyclopedia Ii - Bundle Theory - Bundle Theory And Eastern Philosophy
Candrakirti, the famous Madhyamaka philosopher used the aggregate nature of objects to demonstrate the lack of essence in what is known a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bundle Theory: Encyclopedia Ii - Bundle Theory - Bundle Theory And Eastern Philosophy
Candrakirti, the famous Madhyamaka philosopher used the aggregate nature of objects to demonstrate the lack of essence in what is known a...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahma: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Brahma
Brahma: Creator God of the Trimurti in Bhakti Hinduism.    (See also: Brahma , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul) &...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahmin: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Brahmin
Brahmin: Priestly caste of people in Hinduism's caste system.    (See also: Brahmin , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and S...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Satori: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Satori
Satori: Term for "enlightenment" in Zen Buddhism.    (See also: Satori , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Citta: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Citta
Citta: "Ordinary consciousness" in Hindu Yoga, as contrasted with purusha (our inner transcendent self).    (See...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shiva: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Shiva
Shiva: destroyer God of the Trimurti in Bhakti Hinduism.    (See also: Shiva , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul) &...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Dharmasastras: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Dharmasastras
Dharmasastras: "Law books" in Hinduism such as the Law of Manu which mandate social duties (dharma).    (See als...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Brahman
brahman: The notion of sacrificial power in Vedic Hinduism which was controlled by priests.    (See also: brahman , Easte...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Asoka: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Asoka
Asoka: 3rd century king of India's Mauryan Dynasty who converted to Buddhism and helped its advance.    (See also: Asoka ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Dravidian: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Dravidian
Dravidian: Original dark skinned inhabitants of India's Indus Valley civilization from 3500-1500 BCE.    (See also: Dravi...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Filial Obedience: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Filial Obedience
Filial Obedience (hsiao): Central Confucian concept designating respect for elders.    (See also: Filial Obedience , East...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Mara: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Mara
Mara: Hindu god of pestilence, better known as the tempter who tried to foil Buddha's attainment of enlightenment    (See ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Karma: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Karma
Karma: "Action" in Hinduism and Buddhism, often associated with the doctrine of karma.    (See also: Karma , Ea...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Krishna: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Krishna
Krishna: Legendary Hindu figure in the Bhagavad Gita who is said to be a human incarnation of the god Vishnu.    (See also...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Humanity: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Humanity
Humanity (jen): Central Confucian concept advocating benevolent action towards people.    (See also: Humanity , Eastern P...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sanskrit: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Sanskrit
Sanskrit: Ancient Indo-European language in which the classic texts of Hinduism are written.    (See also: Sanskrit , Eas...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shakti: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Shakti
Shakti: Hindu notion of creative power, associated with the Goddess Devi, wife of Shiva.    (See also: Shakti , Eastern P...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samadhi: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Samadhi
Samadhi: "without support"; the highest stage of meditation in Hinduism's school of Raja Yoga.    (See also: Sa...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shaktism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Shaktism
Shaktism: Hindu tradition which focuses on the creative power (shakti) of the Goddess Devi, wife of Shiva.    (See also: ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Zen: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Zen
Zen: Japanese name for the Chinese school of Ch'an Buddhism. (See Ch'an).    (See also: Zen , Eastern Philosophy, Body M...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Trimurrti: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Trimurrti
Trimurrti: Trimorphic view of God in Bhakti Hinduism consisting of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.    (See also: Trimurrti , E...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tripitika: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Tripitika
Tripitika: Literally "three baskets", another name for the Buddhist Pali Canon.    (See also: Tripitika , Easte...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vishnu: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Vishnu
Vishnu: The preserver God of the Trimurti in Bhakti Hinduism who is said to have human incarnations (avitars).    (See als...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Confucius: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Confucius
Confucius (551-479 BCE): Latinized name for Kung Fu-tzu, Chinese founder of Confucianism whose sayings are preserved in the Analects. ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Desire: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Desire
Desire (tanha, trishna): Second noble truth of Buddhism which designates that suffering results from craving sensory and mental object...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Dharma: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Dharma
Dharma: in Hinduism, social duty including the caste system and four stages of life (asramana). In Buddhism, dharma refers to the teac...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Brahman
Brahman: Hindu notion of the all-pervasive God who is identical to the self within us, especially as described in the Upanishads and V...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Buddhi: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Buddhi
Buddhi: "Intellect"; in Samkya Hinduism buddhi is the first and most important manifestation of prakriti (physical nature). ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Amida: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Amida
Amida: The most famous of the Celestial Buddhas in Mahayana Buddhism, who instituted a heavenly Buddha-Land called the Pure Land. &n...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhakti Hinduism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Bhakti Hinduism
Bhakti Hinduism: Devotional movement within Hinduism beginning around 300 CE which emphasizes the gods of the Trimurti.   &nbs...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Law Of Manu: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Law Of Manu
Law of Manu (Manava Dharmasastra): Most famous of the Hindu codes of law (Dharmasastras), written about 200 BCE.    (See a...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Maya: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Maya
Maya: Hindu term coined by Advaita Vedanta to refer to the illusory or deceptive nature of the world which prompts us to make distinct...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Koan: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Koan
Koan: Paradoxical question posed by Zen masters using the koan system, such as "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" &...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hindu: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Hindu
Hindu: General term designating the religion of India and its various movements including Vedic Hinduism, Brahmanism, and Bhakti Hindu...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Isvarakrsna: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Isvarakrsna
Isvarakrsna: 4th century CE founder of the Hindu school of Samkya; author of Samkhyakarika (literally "Verses on the Samkhya"...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Gautama: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Gautama
Gautama: Family name of Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 BCE), known as "The Buddha" and founder of Buddhism.    (See...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Great Ultimate: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Great Ultimate
Great Ultimate (t'ai-chi): Main productive force of the universe as described in the I Ching and developed by Neo-Confucianism. &nbs...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samsara: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Samsara
Samsara: Hindu notion of reincarnation in which one's present life is followed by a series of new lives in new physical bodies. &nbs...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Seated Meditation: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Seated Meditation
Seated Meditation (zazen): Zen Buddhist practice of sitting and meditating on ordinary conscious experience for long periods of time. ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Seng-chao: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Seng-chao
Seng-chao (384-414 CE): Chinese Mahayana philosopher who followed the Middle Path School of Nagarjuna.    (See also: Seng...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Return: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Return
Return (fu, fan): Taoist notion that all things follow a natural process by which they grow from the Tao, and then disintegrate into t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Non-mind: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Non-mind
Non-Mind (wu-tsin): Taoist position that we should eliminate knowledge to allow us to live spontaneously.    (See also: N...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Prakriti: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Prakriti
Prakriti: Notion of our physical nature in the Samkya and Yoga systems of Hinduism; contrasted with purusha (inner transcendent self)....   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siddhartha: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Siddhartha
Siddhartha: First name of Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 BCE), known as "The Buddha" and founder of Buddhism.    (S...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Social Custom: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Social Custom
Social Custom (li): Central Confucian concept advocating effortless adherence to social norms and performance of social rituals. &nb...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Transformation: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Transformation
Transformation (hua): Taoist notion in the Chuang-Tzu that everything in nature involves transformation from one state to another. &...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upanishads: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Upanishads
Upanishads: 108 philosophical texts of Brahmanic Hinduism composed between 800-500 BCE which emphasize the notion of the Atman-Brahman...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedic Hinduism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Vedic Hinduism
Vedic Hinduism: Religion of the India's Aryan invaders (1500-800 BCE), the sacred text of which is the Vedas    (See also:...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sankara: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Sankara
Sankara (788-820 CE): Hindu founder of Advaita Vedanta, a monistic (or nondual) interpretation of Vedanta philosophy; Sankara emphasiz...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Confucianism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Confucianism
Confucianism: Religious and philosophical system of China based on the teachings of Confucius which emphasizes social values such as f...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Darsanas: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Darsanas
Darsanas: Formal systems of emancipation in Hinduism from the 7th century CE and on; the six traditional schools are, Samkya, Nyaya, V...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Divination: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Divination
Divination: An attempt to understand communication from the dead by means of various signs; the I Ching, one of the Five Classics of C...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Buddhism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Buddhism
Buddhism: Religion founded in India by Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 BCE) which stresses the four noble truths; Buddhism's main two main...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahmanism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Brahmanism
Brahmanism: Reform movement within Hinduism from 1000 BCE to 300 CE which de-emphasizes priestly sacrificial rites and emphasizes the ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Buddhaghosa: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Buddhaghosa
Buddhaghosa: fourth century CE Buddhist philosopher and author of The Path of Purity (Visuddhimagga), among the most important texts i...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Buddha-lands: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Buddha-lands
Buddha-Lands: In Mahayana Buddhism, heavenly realms instituted by Celestial Buddhas to which the devoted go after death; the most famo...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Buddha-nature: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Buddha-nature
Buddha-Nature (buddhata): In Mahayana Buddhism, undifferientiated absolute existence behind all appearances, functionally the same as ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Arhat: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Arhat
Arhat: Literally "the worthy," Theravada Buddhist term referring to the ideal Buddhist who devotes himself full time to his ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Aryan: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Aryan
Aryan: Light skinned migrating people, perhaps from Europe, who settled in India around 1500 BCE and instituted Vedic Hinduism. &nbs...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Atman-brhaman: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Atman-brhaman
Atman-Brhaman: The notion of the Self-God in Brahmanic and Vedanta Hinduism which maintains that our true inner self is identical to t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavad Gita: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita: Literally song of God, short philosophical dialog within the Hindu Mahabharata epic which discusses the Atman-Brahman a...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bodhisattva: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva: Literally "enlightened being", ideal saint in Mahayana Buddhism who postpones his own enlightenment to assist o...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Emptiness: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Emptiness
Emptiness (sunyata): Central notion in Mahayana Buddhism that ultimate reality is not discoverable; the term is functionally the same ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Five Elements: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Five Elements
Five Elements (wu-hsing): Five principal substances in Chinese thought, which are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.    ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Lotus Sutra: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra (saddharma-pundarika): An early Mahayana Buddhist text (composed between 100 BCE and 200 CE) which emphasizes the means-to...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Middle Path: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Middle Path
Middle Path (majjhimapatipada): Central doctrine taught by Buddha concerning the avoidance of extremes as a means of attaining enlight...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Law Of Karma: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Law Of Karma
Law of Karma: Hindu view that the good and bad consequences of one's actions affect one's status in future lives (samsara)   &n...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Koan System: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Koan System
Koan System: Instruction technique of the Rinsai school of Zen Buddhism in which a master poses a series of koans to his students over...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Kuo Hsiang: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Kuo Hsiang
Kuo Hsiang (d. 312 CE): Neo-Taoist philosopher who emphasized that the Tao is non-existence, and things arise from nature (t'ien). &...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Lankavatra Sutra: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Lankavatra Sutra
Lankavatra Sutra: 4th century CE Mahayana Buddhist text of the Yogacara school which is most noted for its lengthy discussion of nirva...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Lao-tzu: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Lao-tzu
Lao-Tzu: Legendary founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching, who is said to have been an older contemporary of Confucius. &n...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hsuan-tsang: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Hsuan-tsang
Hsuan-tsang (596-664 CE): Chinese Mahayana philosopher who followed the Yogacara School, thus founding in China the School of Consciou...   » Read the article

Dictionary - I Ching: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On I Ching
I Ching: Literally "Book of Changes," a book of written oracles associated with 64 abstract figures; one of the Five Classic...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Identity Of Opposites: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Identity Of Opposites
Identity of Opposites: Taoist notion of the Chuang-Tzu that opposing descriptions of things are relative and in fact point to a single...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Karma Yoga: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga: Sub-school of Hindu Yoga which advocates becoming indifferent to the consequences of one's actions, thereby disassociating...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Good Government: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Good Government
Good Government: View in the Confucian Analects that rulers should rule by setting a moral example which the whole country will follow...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Han Dynasty: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty: Period in Chinese history from 206 BCE- 220 CE during which time Confucianism became the dominant religion.   &nbs...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hinayana: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Hinayana
Hinayana: "Little raft" school of Buddhism as so named by their Mahayana Buddhist rivals; the school later changed its name ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - School Of Mind: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On School Of Mind
School of Mind (Hsin-Hsueh): Idealist-oriented Neo-Confucian school founded by Lu Hsiang-Shan which emphasized innate knowledge of the...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Purusha: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Purusha
Purusha: Notion of one's inner transcendent self in the Samkya and Yoga systems of Hinduism; contrasted with prakriti (our physical na...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Rectification Of Names: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Rectification Of Names
Rectification of Names (cheng ming): Central Confucian concept involving the correct use of language such that words and actions confo...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Religious Taoism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Religious Taoism
Religious Taoism (Tao-chiao): Later development within the Taoist tradition which emphasized techniques of attaining physical immortal...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samkya: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Samkya
Samkya: One of the six Hindu systems of emancipation (Darsanas) which emphasizes a distinction between purusha (our inner transcendent...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Moksha: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Moksha
Moksha: "Release"; Hindu notion of the ending of the cycle of reincarnation (samsara); also associated with the highest stag...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Nagarjuna: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna (c. 150-250 CE): Founder of the Middle Path School of Mahayana Buddhism, and author of the Treatise on the Fundamentals of t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Neti Neti: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Neti Neti
Neti Neti: Literally, "not this, not this"; famous Hindu expression from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad which indicates that t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Non-action: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Non-action
Non-Action (wu-wei): Taoist position that we should avoid all unnatural action and act passively and spontaneously.    (Se...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Patanjali: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Patanjali
Patanjali: Unknown Hindu figure from the 4th-6th centuries CE, and author of the Yoga Sutra which describes eight steps to meditation....   » Read the article

Dictionary - Philosophical Taoism: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Philosophical Taoism
Philosophical Taoism (tao-chia): Early non-religious direction of Taoism as found in the Tao Te Ching, the Chuang-Tzu, the Lieh-Tzu, N...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Prajna: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Prajna
Prajna: Literally, "wisdom", one of the ten perfections (paramitas) of Mahayana Buddhism; this wisdom is usually seen as an ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Pratyekabuddha: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Pratyekabuddha
Pratyekabuddha: The isolated practitioner of Theravada Buddhism who seeks enlightenment outside of a formal monastic setting; by contr...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Structural Form: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Structural Form
Structural Form (li): Neo-Confucian term used by writers such as Chu Hsi who see it as a metaphysical principal in contrast with mater...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: Hindu sacred texts of the Aryan invaders written between 1500-800 BCE which includes the Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and A...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yang Chu: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Yang Chu
Yang Chu (c. 450 BCE): Early Chinese philosopher who emphasized self-preservation and may have inspired Taoist notions about the evils...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yin And Yang: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Yin And Yang
Yin and Yang: negative (female) and postive (male) complementary forces of the universe central to Chinese thought since perhaps as ea...   » Read the article