EASTERN versus WESTERN PHILOSOPHY: Differences and Similarities

ISSUE	EASTERN PHILOSOPHY	WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
Main Schools	Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Integral Yoga, Islam, Taoism, Zen	Rational, Scientific, Logical
Main Principles	Cosmological unity Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the realities that surround us Circular view of the universe, based on the perception of eternal recurrence Inner-world dependant Self-liberation from the false "Me" and finding the true "Me" Behavioral ethics	Feeling oneself as an element of the Divine Life is service (to the God, money, business, etc.) Linear view of the universe and life, based on the Christian philosophy where everything has its beginning and the end. Outer-world dependant Self-dedication to the goal (success, happiness, etc.)
The "Me" concept	Eternal reality of the universal truth: self-liberation through getting rid of the false "Me" and discovering the true "Me"	"Me" is here and now. The true “Me” in every human being is a part of the Divine that need to become apparent. True “Me” is given and doesn’t have to be cognizable.
Relationship with Religion	Integration	Opposition
Search for Absolute Truth	Systemic approach – all events in the universe are interconnected Searching inside yourself – through meditation and right living "Though he should live a hundred years, not seeing the Truth Sublime; yet better, indeed, is the single day's life of one who sees the Truth Sublime." – Buddha	More focused on individual events and the role of the person Searching outside yourself - through research and analysis "The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe." – H.L.Mencken
Search for Truth & Fundamental Research	The truth is given is does not to have be proved. The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research is weaker.	The truth needs to be proven. The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research is stronger.
Future	Future is predetermined by ones own deeds today. "Study the past if you would like to divine the future." – Confucius	Future is unknown, ones destiny has been predetermined by God and depends very little on ones own deeds. "You can never plan the future by the past." – Edmund Burke
Beliefs and Values	The true key is inside. What is valuable – is the inner world of the human being and his natural ability to control and develop it. The way ahead – is through self-development (inside intervention). "The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell." – Confucius "By chasing desires you will meet only the outer surface." – Lao Tzu	The main values are success and happiness, that can be achieved in different ways, but rarely through developing ones inner strength. The majority of the criteria for success and happiness have outer nature (money, faith, popularity, etc.). The way ahead – is through active outside intervention. "Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative." – Aristotle
Individualism / Collectivism	A human being is an integral part of the universe and the society. People are fundamentally connected and duty towards all others is a very serious matter. Collectivism is stronger.	A human being has an individualistic nature, is an independent part of the universe and the society. Individualism is stronger.
Improvement / Evolution	Cyclic development, thus improvement has no limits and is an ultimate goal.	Linear development, thus improvement has a goal. The development stops when the goal is reached.
Radical Innovation / Revolution	The fundamentals of the status quo should not be questioned. The culture of considering and introducing radical changes is weaker.	The fundamentals of the status quo can – and often should - be questioned. The culture of considering and introducing radical changes is stronger.
Passion & Venturing	Entrepreneurial creativity and venturing is contained by the habit to control one's passions. "Desires are the cause of suffering. If desire, which lies at the route of all human passion, can be removed, then passion will die out and all human suffering will be ended." – Buddhism "Vain indeed is all overweening pride in the conquest even of the entire universe if one has not conquered one's own passions." – Sri Aurobindo	Entrepreneurial venturing is encouraged emotionally. "Nothing is ever achieved by reasonable men." – J Fred Bucy of Texas Instruments "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm... Always do what you are afraid to do... Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson "If you want to succeed, you have to forge new paths and avoid borrowed ones." – John Rockfeller
Achievement & Winning	Winning is inside yourself. "Though he should conquer a thousand men in the battlefield a thousand times, yet he, indeed, who would conquer himself is the noblest victor." – Buddha "He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu "The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose." – Confucius	Winning is outside yourself. "You're not a star until they can spell your name in Karachi." – Roger Moore "Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one stop of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified." – Samuel Johnson "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult."
Implementation	Spiritual and missionary approach. "To create and develop without any feelings of ownership, to work and guide without any expectation and control, is the best quality" – Lao Tzu To achieve self-liberation and nirvana you need to perform your duties without expecting any reward for it. – Vedanta, Hinduism "Action can be achieved by inaction, where the result is achieved by "Not-Me" – Zen	Pragmatic and emotional approach. "The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play." – Arnold Toynbee "Since most of us spend our lives doing ordinary tasks, the most important thing is to carry them out extraordinary well." – Henry David Thoreau "Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution." – Brian Tracy
Goals & Key to Success	Spiritual Virtuous life and adherence to performing your duties. – Confucianism "If you really want everything, then give up everything." – Lao Tzu "He is able who thinks he is able." – Buddha	Materialistic "The secret of success in life, and subsequently of making money, is to enjoy your work. If you do, nothing is hard work - no matter how many hours you put in." – Sir Billy Butlin "Success is that old ABC – ability, breaks and courage." – Charles Luckman "Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success." – Dale Carnegie
Living Principles	Virtue "Be satisfied with whatever you have, and enjoy the same. When you come to know that you have everything, and you are not short of anything, then the whole world will be yours." – Lao Tzu "The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings." – Buddha	Ethic "Refrain from doing ill; for one all powerful reason, lest our children should copy our misdeeds; we are all to prone to imitate whatever is base and depraved." – Juvenal "There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated from right living." – David Starr Jordan
Establishing Control Over Your Emotions	Through meditation A man can separate his/her mind from his/her emotions and control them – Taoism	Through analysis "I can control my passions and emotions if I can understand their nature." – Spinosa
Leadership	Spiritual; walking behind people; silence is golden. "In order to guide people, the leader must put himself behind them. Thus when he is ahead they feel no hurt." – Lao Tzu	Hands-on; walking ahead of people; speech is golden. "Leadership is done from in front. Never ask others to do what you, if challenged, would not be willing to do yourself." – Xenophon