“Asian Philosophies” By John M. Koller Essay Samples

(1) When the sages of questioned Self, they eventually came to the realization that the Atman (Self) and Brahman, the source of all existence is one and the same, it was a pivotal moment in East Asian philosophy. Recognizing that each person is made up of the very fabric of the universe is the ultimate truth, and through self-awareness one can come to unification with Brahman. There is no beginning or end to the Atman, which is Brahman. When all existence is Brahman, then the Atman is naturally a product of this very omnipresent existence. “The Atman is the ultimate subject that can never become the object” (Koller, p.22). It is only through the Self realizing its own existence that one can truly come to know the Atman.
This knowledge that the sages came to understand and impart in the Upanishads was a key point in the Hindu philosophy. The oneness of the universe and all its beings is a concept that arises from the acknowledgment of the Atman as Brahman.
(2) In chapter two of the Bhagavad Gita Krishna is disappointed in Arjuna’s resistance to fighting in this war with his relatives. Krishna expresses to Arjuna that he is responding from attachment to the physical realm and that is not properly fulfilling his duty as a Kshatriya. Krishna implores to Arjuna that it is his duty to fight this war and rid the world of evil. Despite the fact that Arjuna is forced to fight his uncles, cousins, and family, Krishna further emphasizes that the only reason Arjuna feels grief and hesitation is because of his attachment to these physical bodies and their relationships. It is a fundamental aspect of Hinduism that one is to recognize Self in each and everything in and around us, which makes the obligations that Arjuna faces necessary to fulfill according to Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna scolds Arjuna for behaving in such a cowardly manner. It is unrighteous of Arjuna to avoid his duty and responsibly fight this war that he is resisting to partake in. By showing Arjuna that his response is just another typical response of an individual who lacks spiritual enlightenment Krishna convinces Arjuna of his destiny. Making Arjuna understand that there is no right or wrong in his role in this war, only duty to the Supreme Being that matters.
(3) The yoga view of reality and the way of yoga are similar to many of the other philosophical concepts of Asian (Hindu) philosophy. The yoga view or reality refers to the concepts that are laid out in the Upanishads and the belief system of the Hindu sages. This view of reality includes the concepts of Atman (Self) and Brahman; it also includes the gunas, prakriti, and purusha; in addition with the importance of self-realization or awareness of where our truest essence exists, in the purusha or as part of Brahman. Therefore the yoga view of reality has to do with the concepts and ideas of Hindu philosophy.
The way of yoga has to do with the various practices available to the individual as he or she works towards their path to Samadhi. Samadhi is the when the prakriti sees its truest self, which is the purusha or when Atman recognizes itself as Brahman. There are various practices that are intended to guide one closer to self-realization through minimizing the “mind-stuff.” Examples of these ways of yoga include moral restraint, spiritual observance, postures, Pranayama (disciplined breathing), withdrawing the senses, concentration, and meditation are the pathway to Samadhi, self-realization, where one will no longer be forced suffer in attachment to the false Self or the prakriti.
(4) Gandhi’s interpretation of the precept of no-stealing in the selection from “All Men are Brothers” is tied into the concept of taking only as much as one needs for sustenance and nothing more. According to Gandhi for those who obtain and collect much more than they need would be a form of stealing. Any type of excess or dishonest method of possession would be considered stealing. The wide gap between the rich and poor is a perfect example of one group-the rich who are ultimately thieves for allowing themselves such excess spoils, meanwhile the largest numbers of the population continue to suffer without even basic necessities.
No-stealing would be an exercise of self-control for the sake of the whole. If each individual were to only take what he or she needed, then there would be plenty to provide for each person on the planet. For example, in the United States there is such an excess of wasted food items that are thrown away, meanwhile the poor countries have millions of citizens without food, clothing, and shelter. This desire to live in excess is an aspect of the American lifestyle many foreign nations condemn. Basically, for no-stealing to be a reality, all nations of the earth would share equitably in all the resources of the earth. A harmony between man and nature would ensue as humanity only takes the amount needed from nature rather than allowing a select few to rob the earth while allowing millions to suffer. It is this concept of equality and oneness that pervades Gandhi’s interpretation of no-stealing according to All Men are Brothers.