Other Beliefs:
Buddhism, Confucianism,
Daoism, Shinto, Sikhism.
Confucianism
* Confucius was a
teacher and editor
of books.
* 551 – 479 B.C.
Major Principles
Li --> Ritual and traditions
Ren --> Benevolence, humanity
Shu --> Empathy, serving others
Yi --> Righteousness
Xiao --> Respect for elders
Confucius also taught to respect people
based on abilities, status, and age.
Confucian sayings in the
Analects
* Knowing what he knows and knowing
what he doesn’t know, is characteristics
of the person who knows.
* Making a mistake and not correcting it,
is making another mistake.
* The superior man blames himself; the
inferior man blames others.
* To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
DAOISM
* Laozi (604 B.C. - ?) is
thought to have
written the “Dao de
Jing”
* His name means
“Old Master”
Dao De Jing
* The basic text of Daoism.
*
In Chinese, it means The Classic in
the Way and Its Power.
*
“Those who speak know nothing:
Those who know are silent.”
These words, I am told,
Were spoken by Laozi.
If we are to believe that Laozi,
Was himself one who knew,
How is it that he wrote a book,
Of five thousand words?
Important Daoist principles
1. Dao [Tao] is a force that flows
through all life.
2. A believer’s goal is to become one
with Dao; one with nature
3. Man is unhappy because he lives in
ways that are contrary to the ways of
nature.
The duality of the universe
*Masculine
* Active
* Feminine
*
Passive
* Darkness
*
Cold
*
Weak
*
Earth;
Moon
* Light
* Warmth
* Strong
* Heaven;
Sun
BUDDHISM
The “middle way of wisdom and
compassion.”
2,500 year old tradition.
Siddhartha Guatama (563-483 B.C.)
 Born in India and raised in
great luxury to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected luxury to
seek enlightenment
and the source of suffering.
 After years of wandering,
sat in meditation, and found
“nirvana,” and discovered
all the secrets of the
universe.
 Belief that the
fundamental root of
all suffering is
desire.
 If you remove all
your attachment to
desires, and live a
virtuous life
according to
Buddha’s teachings,
you can also reach
Nirvana.
Eightfold Path
 1. Right View Wisdom
 2. Right Intention
 3. Right Speech Ethical Conduct
 4. Right Action
 5. Right Livelihood
 6. Right Effort Mental Development
 7. Right Mindfulness
 8. Right Concentration
Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation
School.”
 Seeks sudden
enlightenment
through meditation
and focus on beauty
and art:
 Gardens.
 Archery.
 Tea ceremony.
 Calligraphy.
Buddhism in America
Shinto
The native religion of Japan
Origins of Shinto
 Shinto means “ the way of gods/spirits”
 Practices include:
– Reverence for Ancestors
– Fierce Loyalty to others and to the nation
– Polytheism
Shinto Rituals
 Shinto emphasizes ceremony to express
the joyful acceptance of nature.
 Life and death are a part of nature’s
process
 There is no good and evil.
SIKHISM
Sikh Beliefs
 The Goal– Sikhs build a close loving
relationship with God.
 Deity- One God who has 99 names.
 Reincarnation- continual rebirth back on earth
 Many beliefs are similar to Hinduism.
Sikh Practices
 Prayer several times daily.
 Worship: Sikhs are
prohibited from worshiping
idols, images and icons.
 Temples: There are over
200 Gurwaras( Shrines,
Temples or holy places)
The Five K’s
 Kesa- Long Hair is never
cut.
 Kangah- comb
 Kacha- short pants
 Kara- metal bracelets
 Kirpan- ceremonial
dagger.