The philosophies of China are Confucianism and Daoism. China's main religion is Buddhism. The founders of Confucianism and Daoism, Confucius and Lao Tze, as well as the Buddha, would have a lot to say about life today in the United States. Much of our lifestyle would meet with their disapproval.
To understand why this is so, one must understand the basic aspects of the stated religion and philosophies. Confucianism says that a good culture is based on the relationships in the individual's life. There are five important relationships, including friend to friend, husband to wife, and ruler to subject. Daoism says that one must live simply and in harmony with nature. Government should have little effect on people's lives. Buddhism is more complicated. Buddhists believe that the origin of pain in life is greed and desire. To end pain, one must follow the Eightfold Path, the Buddha's rules for living. They also believe in the middle way, neither self-indulgence or self-deprivation, and in reincarnation.
One major aspect of our culture is the television. Most people watch it every day, and many feel they couldn't live without it. Confucius would point out that the TV takes time that might have been spent building relationships, on which a good culture is based. He would also point out that the TV teaches bad morals. Lao Tze, as the founder of Daoism, would surely say that one who watches TV does not have a simple enough lifestyle. The Buddha would say that TV keeps people from following one of the elements of the Eightfold Path, the right effort. The right effort is that one must train and improve oneself. This can not happen while one is watching TV.
Another technology-related aspect of our culture is the upcoming Y2K bug. Because of an error in most computer programs, many computer systems, including banking and social security, may fail on January 1, 2000. Some are predicting the end of the world and stocking up on canned food, but the Y2K bug is more likely to cause brief power failures than disaster. However, no one is sure to what extent the damage may go.
On this problem, Confucius would say, as with television, that computers take away time that could be spent building relationships. Lao Tze would say that we shouldn't have become so dependent on computer systems in the first place, and should have lived simply.
Perhaps the most discussed is the Lewinsky scandal. The President of the United States, Bill Clinton, had an inappropriate relationship with a young White House intern. He was investigated by independent council Kenneth Starr, and ended up lying about his conduct in front of a Grand Jury. The President was put on trial for impeachment, but was aquitted.
On this controversial issue, Confucius would say that the President was disrespectful to his wife, and did not set a good example as the ruler in a ruler to subject relationship is supposed to. He would remind the people that they still have a duty to respect the president, and learn from him in his mistakes. The First Lady also has an obligation to continue to respect the President.
Another political issue of today is ethics in the campaign for the office of president of the United States. Candidates campaign intensely, using speeches and television commercials. They try to make themselves look good, and often dig up dirt on other candidates.
Confucius would say that they should respect one another, even though theirs may not exactly be friend to friend relationships. Also, if they should be elected they would have set a bad example for the people in their ruler to subject relationship. Lao Tze would probably say that they shouldn't have been running for office in the first place, as he believed that government should play a minor role in people's lives. Buddha would point out that the candidates were not following quite a few aspects of the Eightfold Path, including: right speech, speaking kindly and truthfully, and right thought, acting without selfish motives.
It is plain that the great philosophers of China would not condone many aspects of our
culture.
But are they right?
Do we need to change our lifestyles?
Perhaps we should.
It is important to remember that we can learn from the past.
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