Eastern Philosophies: Hinduism and Bushido

The two most important religions and philosophies that come from Eastern countries are Hinduism and Bushido, the way of the Samurai. Hinduism, which started in India, is the main foundation for Eastern philosophies about religion, and Bushido is the end result from a combination of others. These two Eastern philosophies are the most important, and the most sound, as well as the most fair, ideas that have come from the East to date.

Hinduism, which has several different versions and has no set founder, is the basis for Western thinkers that believe in reincarnation, karma, and that to achieve eternal peacefulness a person must life a good, well balanced life free from bad actions. Even though this religion was based in India, it has spread throughout the world and is considered to be one of the most believable Eastern religions.

Hinduism bases a belief that reality is one, and that the blending of mind, body, and soul will allow the believer to reach nirvana, which is the complete union with the Supreme Being that allows a person to be released from worldly pain and suffering, as well as the release from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Rice, 1978). The peaceful bliss is obtained through karma, which basically states that your actions come back on you. Bad karma, such as murder, thievery, or selfishness will cause a person to be reincarnated (reborn) a step lower in the next life. So this means that if you are a warrior in your current life, you will be reborn as a farmer (Contender Ministries, nd). Good karma, however, has the opposite affect and can allow a person that is a warrior to be reborn as a priest (Contender Ministries, nd). In order for good karma to be reached a person has to be patient, honest, and unselfish. Of course, there are other behaviors and attitudes that all intertwine together, but basically a good person moves up, and a bad person moves down, all with the hopes of reaching the eternal bliss of nirvana.

The second, and the most important, philosophy of the East came from Japan's warrior class, the samurai. Bushido, which is a code of moral ethics that had to be followed, was the foundation for the life of a samurai (True Bushido Code, 2008). A samurai must be ready for anything, trained to respond to anything, and they have to be self-reliant. Basically, a samurai that follows the Bushido code is able to act immediately in any given situation and the reaction will be in such a way that it follows a moral guideline. Each and every person has to be able to react, on their own thoughts and ideas, in a way that does not stray from the code of Bushido.

The main believe within samurai sects were that in order to be complete, a person had to be trained in war as well as peace. In this way, a samurai could react to any situation while still following the Bushido way. The belief that a peaceful, morally correct man has to be willing, and able, to fight is a way of life that transcends even today.

The Bushido code can also be interpreted into every aspect of a person's life, such as business, family, and government. These codes are used today by many successful companies in order to gain success, and they are also used within families to keep the chances of reproduction high. In other words, a company, or a family, that is prepared for anything, has a better chance of survival than companies or families that are unprepared.

Hinduism and Bushido are the two most important religious and philosophical ideas that come from the West. There are various other ideas and versions, but overall these two ideas are the true form of Eastern religion. These two forms are a way of life, not just a belief, and as such can make a person a better person, until eternal tranquility can be reached.

Contender Ministries Hindu Beliefs CountenderMinistries.com
Edward Rice Eastern Definitions Themystica.com
True Bushido Code Focusing on the True Code of Bushido