The morals of the Blind elephant
no one person has the whole truth, each truth is filtered through ones experience, the labels we give help us communicate the truth, those same labels can also limit our understanding of truth, truth is mystery
Implications of the blind elephant
There is a need for openness and communication among religions; There is a need for tolerance, respect, and honesty among religions; Evil, however, cannot never be tolerated or respected
Characteristics of the east
Cyclical, intuitive, oneness
What is cyclical
Perspective on life and history; reincarnation
What is intuitive
Koan (2+2=5)
What is oneness
The wave
Characteristics of the west
linear, analytical, individuality
What is linear
historical perspective, salvation; life death and resurrection
What is analytical
reason (2+2=4)
what is individuality
separate, individual humans
Atman
the eternal self or soul of an individual that is reincarnated from one body to the next
avatar
an incarnation or living embodiment of a deity
Bhagavad-Gita
a short section of the epic poem mahabharata in which the God Krishina teaches Arjuna about ways to god
Bhkati- maerhi
The path to devotion; emphasizes loving devotion
BrahmAn
the eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe, beyone the reach of human perception and thought
BrahmIn
the highest of the four classes of the cast system, made up of priests
caste system
division of hindu society
dharma
Ethical duty based on the divine order of reality
jnana marga
the path of knowledge; emphasizing knowing the true nature of reality
karma
the moral law of cause and effect in actions
Hinduism founder
no specific founder
Hinduism date
1500-500 b.c
Hinduism origin
India
Hinduism holy book
Upanishads, Vedas, Mahabharata
Buddhism founder's
Siddhartha and Gautama
Buddhism date
600 b.c.e
Buddhism origin
Northern India
Buddhism holy books
Pali Cannon
Taoism founder
Lao Tzu
Taoism date
600 b.c.e
Taoism origin
China
Taoism holy books
Tao Te Ching
Confucianism founder
Kung-Fu-Tzu
Confucianism date
600 b.c.e
Confucianism origin
China
Confucianism holy books
Patterns of Prestige, Analects of Confucius
Judaism founder
Abraham/ moses
Judaism date
1950 b.c.e
Judaism origin
Canaan
Judaism holy books
Hebrew Scriptures
Zoroastrianism founder
Zoroaster
Zoroastrianism date
600 b.c.e
Zoroastrianism origin
Persia
Zoroastrianism holy books
none
Christianity founder
Jesus
Christianity date
0
Christianity origin
Judah
Christianity holy books
Hebrew and Christian scriptures
Islam founder
Muhammad
Islam date
600 c.e
Islam origin
Arabian Peninsula
Islam holy books
Qur'an and Hadith