According to Fisher, (1999) the ideas of Li, Filial Piety, Wu Wei, Feng Shui, and Oharai can be discussed as follows. Li involves some of the Confucian rituals and courtesy, which show that an individual’s behaviour has cosmic importance. Filial Piety involves respecting elders as well as indicating how a person should conduct him/herself towards their parents. Feng Shui are the rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement in relation to patterns spiritual or earthly spirits based on a positive/ ancestral force or an earthly/ hungry ghost respectively. Wu Wei is considered as one of the concepts in Taoism that involves the idea of allowing things to take place on their own without premeditated action. Oharai is a purification ritual whereby a Shinto priest waves branches from the sacred Sakaki tree to purify space or a person.
Filial Piety holds significant importance to the modern world particularly among the young people. The call for courtesy and respect to elders, authorities and to each other are fundamental to harmonious leaving in the society. The challenges in the contemporary society have forced people to care less about other people’s welfare and the capitalistic nature of most of the world’s economies further exacerbates this sad situation. Filial Piety offers to present a favourable approach to towards how human beings can show courtesy to our elders and our parents. The guiding principle is for us to learn respect and discipline from the basic family unit and such virtues end up being mirrored to everyone around us since response is a universal element that is required from every individual.
Feng Shui may not be very applicable to the modern world probably because of the advancements in scientific technology. However, this is not to say that it does not have any impact in the society today especially among those societies that hold traditional beliefs in high regard. The use of traditional herbalists and medicine men and women can be juxtaposed with this Chinese philosophy.
The Li ideas are important when attributed to some of the unconventional methods of sailing that are still used in large water transport where sailors have not embraced modern technology to find their way along the sea and oceans around the world. With regards to one’s behaviour, Li emphasizes that there is an interrelationship between behaviour and space bodies. Space objects including the sun, stars, moon, planets among others are believed to hold significant meaning based on their changing phenomena which can be attributed to human behaviour. Climate change and global warming can be attributed to actions by human beings of degrading the environment.
Wu Wei is important in this fast moving global community where competition and struggle for the fittest has become crucial and an element for survival. From a medical point of view, certain conditions and ailments are attributed to poor lifestyles that include stress, depression, accidents among others. These extreme conditions come about when an individual fails to adhere to the ideas of Wu Wei. Its guiding principle of allowing things to happen just as they should is of prominence to healthy living.
The ideas behind Oharai are significant in the modern world especially among Christian churches and the Catholic faith to be specific. Waving of branches is symbolic in terms of portraying the showering of blessings from a supreme being, a prominent figure or an individual (Fisher, 1999). In the African culture, for instance, many communities still embrace and adhere to the traditional customs and beliefs and the use of council of elders, chiefs and kings confirms this fact. On e of the symbol of powers is the use of a stick-like structure for holding by the hand. The use of the stick is to bless or administer ill will to those who are not contended with the norms and rules of society.
Question 2
The Indian religion includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Religions from the Far East include Taoism, Shinto and Confucianism. Some of the differences that distinguish them from each other as well as their similarities include the following.
Hinduism is a large body of scriptures based on religious day to day ways of life. The Vedas and Upanishads are considered to be supreme in terms of importance and authority. Some of the important tenets include Dharma, Samsara, Karma, and Mokhs. Hinduism beliefs encompass monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, monism and atheism.
Buddhism was established in Nepal in the 15th Century. Its central principles are the Four Noble Truths that were disclosed by Buddha and the Eightfold Path. It has two schools that were divided into the Ravada and Mahayana while their central beliefs revolves around the fact the teachings that somebody who becomes informed without training automatically becomes a Buddha
Jainism draws attention to the practice of strictness. Its central belief is that the soul can get away with the rotation of rebirth and death through strict ethical behaviour (Fisher, 1999). Sikhism on the other hand was established on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. They believe in one universal God who is considered to be the sustainer, creator and destroyer.
Shinto religion is from Japan and they identify themselves as Buddhists. The core values affirm on the significance of the traditional family, cleanliness, adhering to rituals and the beauty of nature.
Confucianism on the other hand involves a system of political, moral and social thought. It is associated with legalism but rejects legalism for ritualism.
Some of the similarities between the religious traditions of the Far East and India include the following.
They both believe in a supreme being either God or a form of deity. For some like Taoism and Hinduism they are similar in the sense that they are both polytheistic. Both religions have some common values and principles which they adhere to with expected consequences for those who fail to live according to the set standards.
In addition, both religions pay reference to some form of scriptures and writings as well other forms of images, which people or their priests submit their petitions to higher beings that are believed to have an impact on the lives of the common person on the ground. Furthermore, it is evident that both religions can be traced to a particular origin with various schools of thoughts that have defended and upheld the teachings of the aforementioned religions over the years.
In conclusion, it is important to point out that both religions aim at making the relationship among members of the community peaceable through bringing in harmony, respect and discipline that is important for wholesome human development.
References
Fisher, M. P. (1999). Living religions (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
