Nonverbal communication and culture. Identity, stereotypes and prejudices, страница 34

8.  Right meditation is complete concentration on a single object and the achievement of purity of thought, free from all hindrances and distractions. When the mind is still, according to the Buddha, "the true nature of everything is reflected."

Important Teachings. To summarize the Buddhist tradition, below are the following key points:

- First, the Buddha believed that to find enlightenment within oneself, a Buddhist must lead a life that focuses on some of the following behaviors. Through mindfulness, a Buddhist seeks to anchor the mind securely in the present. In achieving right mindfulness through concentration and meditation, the mind is trained to remain in the present: open, quiet, and alert while contemplating the present event. "If we keep our minds under control, if we can realize the meaning of what we are doing, if we can be what we do, this is meditation."

- Second, Buddhism stresses the impermanent nature of all things, both good and bad, which are always changing. Simplicity and freedom from want are states without stress. Envy and desire keep us from being happy and peaceful. A Buddhist must learn to let go of the things of the universe in order to be content. The impermanent and delicate nature of life is stated by the second-century Buddhist philosopher Narajuna: "Life is so fragile, more so than a bubble blown to and fro by the wind. How truly astonishing are those who think that after breathing out, they will surely breathe in again, or that they will awaken after a night's sleep."

- Third, karma is important because it sets the tone for ethical standards. Karma is concerned with action-reaction and with cause and effect: Good deeds bring good results; corrupt deeds bring corrupt results. As is the case with so much of Buddhism, each individual—not a supernatural power—decides his or her karma. The Buddha stated: All beings are the owners of their deeds (Karma), the heirs of their deeds; their deeds are the womb from which they sprang. . . . Whatever deeds they do—good or evil—of such they will be the heirs.

- Fourth, Buddhism is directed at the individual. A famous Buddhist saying makes this very important point: "Betake yourself to no external refuge. Work out your own salvation with diligence."

Finally, in Buddhism we see a world view more concerned with humanism and the art of living daily life than supernatural authority or even metaphysical speculation.

6. Confucianism

Background. Confucianism is the system of social, political, ethical, and religious thought based on the teachings of Confucius and his successors. Although Confucianism has had a profound impact on the cultures of Korea and Japan, its greatest impact for thousands of years has been on the people of China. The roots of Confucianism are "planted" so very deep in China, that even during the anti-religious period of Communism the leaders borrowed the Confucian notions of selfishness, allegiance, and deference to help accomplish their purpose of controlling the masses. In some ways this control was made easy by the fact that Confucianism has no priests, no temples, no religious rituals. It is a rational, ethical system with strict norms, stressing loyalty to the ruler, obedience toward one's father, and proper behavior.

At the heart of Confucianism is the belief in social harmony. Confucianism is a philosophy of human nature that considers proper human relationships as the basis of society. These correct relationships involved such things as the protection of "face," dignity, self-respect, reputation, honor, and prestige.

The Man.As was the case with Buddhism, Confucianism centers around the teachings of a particular man—Confucius. And like Buddha, Confucius was not a ruler, nor did he consider himself a god. In fact, he was not really even interested in the philosophical and ethereal dimensions of religion. Confucius was born in 551 B.C. in the small feudal state of Lu, which is now Shantung Province in China. Confucius dabbled at various careers early in his life; however, at the age of 30 he turned to teaching and by all accounts was very successful. People were impressed by his integrity, honesty, and particularly his pleasant personality and his enthusiasm as a teacher. Three thousand people came to study under him and over seventy became well-established scholars As is the case with so many great thinkers, what Confucius taught grew out of his observations about "the human condition" in China during his lifetime. Confucius was witness to the political disintegration of the feudal order, an era characterized by the hegemony of various states and almost constant internecine warfare.