Eastern Happiness

The terms Eastern Philosophy or Eastern Thought are broad and typically refer to the Philosophical traditions that originated in what is now China, India and Nepal. In my presentation I’m going to focus primarily on Buddhist philosophies.

Not much is known about Siddhārtha Gautama, primarily due to the fact that most information about the Buddha wasn’t recorded in writing until a few hundred years after his death. Most scholars are not very confident about the historical accuracy of the information about his life, but it is accepted that he was born at some point between the 6th and 4th century BCE in what is now Nepal.

Core of Buddhist Philosophy

* I will go more in depth on these in class

Three Universal Truths

Everything is impermanent and changing

The Impermanence of everything leads to suffering

There is not an eternal unchanging “self” or soul

Four Noble Truths

Suffering exists

Suffering has a cause

Suffering can end

The way to end suffering is by following the Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right Seeing/Understanding

Right Thoughts/Intentions

Right Speech

Right Action

Right Work/Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration or “Meditative Absorption”

Two main Buddhist schools of thought developed after the Buddha’s death.


The Mahayana Tradition: Belief that Siddhārtha Gautama was not the first Buddha and wasn't the last. They believe the Buddha to be an ‘enlightened essence’ who delays entry into Nirvana in order to help others. Tibetan Buddhism and Japanese Zen Buddhism both fall under this umbrella.


The Theravada Tradition: Belief that the Buddha was only human but that he is the perfect person to imitate in order to reach enlightenment. (More common in Southeast Asia)





https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48071043





https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/east-and-west-philosophy/





https://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare





Quiz Questions


What are the Three Universal Truths


What are the Four Noble Truths?


Name the two Buddhist schools of thought that developed after the Buddha’s death?


What Buddhist school of thought does the Dalai Lama belong to?


What is the Noble Eightfold Path?





Discussion Questions





What do you believe makes Eastern philosophy attractive to people in the West?


What Greek school of philosophy do you most closely relate Buddhist Philosophy to?


This is a recurring question but do less material possessions lead to happiness or does just less attachment to possessions often lead to being happier?