Chapter 1: The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought

Question 1

He believed that the body constitutes individuality.

Answer 1

Thomas Aquinas

Question 2

It is generally acknowledged to be “imbued with a style of thinking based on dichotomy and binary opposition.”

Answer 2

Western tradition

Question 3

The tendency to see reality as an aggregate of parts.

Answer 3

Analytic

Question 4

It is an observer separate and distinct from external subjects.

Answer 4

Self

Question 5

It involved the tendency toward unitary explanations of phenomena and closed-system view of “self” as modeled after a unitary, omnipotent power.

Answer 5

Monotheism

Question 6

It is a quality of western thinking where self-expression and self-actualization are important ways of establishing who one is, as well as finding satisfaction in the world.

Answer 6

Individualism

Question 7

This thinking tends to discredit explanations that do not use analytic-deductive modes of thinking.

Answer 7

Materialistic/rationalistic

Question 8

It strives to find and prove “the truth.”

Answer 8

Western society

Question 9

It accepts the truth as given and is more interested in finding the balance.

Answer 9

Eastern society

Question 10

It defines the “Me” concept as the eternal reality of the universal truth: self liberation through getting rid of false “Me” and discovering the true “Me.”

Answer 10

Eastern philosophy

Question 11

“Me” is here and now. The true “Me” in every human being is a part of the Devine that need to become apparent. True “Me” is given and doesn’t have to be cognizable.

Answer 11

Western philosophy

Question 12

These are the earliest religious writings in the East which formed the Hindu philosophy and dharma.

Answer 12

Vedas

Question 13

Its chants and hymns illustrates the eastern mindset of a nondual universe but rather a creation that is completely unified with the creator, with no distinction.

Answer 13

Vedas

Question 14

It is described as the true nature of humans which is the divine universal consciousness encompassing the universe.

Answer 14

Brahman

Question 15

One of its main points is “change your perception of the world to perceive the Brahman in oneself and in others.”

Answer 15

Hinduism

Question 16

In Buddhist traditions, it is not an entity, a substance, or essence, but rather a dynamic process; independent and ever changing.

Answer 16

Self

Question 17

Often defined as “no-self or no-soul”, it is a concept that the sense of being a permanent autonomous “self” is an illusion.

Answer 17

Anatta

Question 18

It is the teaching that there is no eternal, unchanging “self/soul” inhabiting our bodies or living our lives.

Answer 18

Anatta

Question 19

This tradition holds the human being’s inborn erroneous view of “self” as an enduring entity is the cause of his/her suffering because he/she tries to hold on to that which is in constant flux and has no existence outside of shifting contexts.

Answer 19

Buddhist tradition

Question 20

It takes a great interest in how people’s experience their “self” rather than just their abstract idea of it because its practices are designed to lead a new experience to life.

Answer 20

Buddhism

Question 21

The quest for the “self” in terms of substance, of spirit, of body, or essence does not exist.

Answer 21

Confucianism

Question 22

It presented the idea that every person is born with four beginnings which could be explained in Western terms as a “pre-self” or a “potential self”.

Answer 22

Confucian philosophy

Question 23

The four beginnings based on Confucian philosophy.

Answer 23

*Heart of compassion that leads to JEN
*Heart of righteousness that leads to YI
*Heart of propriety that leads to LI
*Heart of wisdom that leads to CHIH

Question 24

It means goodwill, sympathy towards others, politeness, and generosity.

Answer 24

Jen

Question 25

It means rightness and the respect of duty (you must respect your position as a guardian toward nature and humanity).

Answer 25

Yi

Question 26

It means having the right to practice propriety in all that you do.

Answer 26

Li

Question 27

It involves not demonstrating your inner attitude in your outer expression.

Answer 27

Propriety

Question 28

It means wisdom which is expressed by putting jen, yi, and li into practice.

Answer 28

Chih

Question 29

In Confucian perception, it is an achieved state of moral excellence rather than a given human condition.

Answer 29

Personality

Question 30

It rejects a hierarchical view of the self, society, or cosmos. It does not disregard the “self” as an extension of social relationships.

Answer 30

Taoism

Question 31

It is an extension of the cosmos.

Answer 31

Taoism

Question 32

Regarded as a mystic of unmatched brilliance in China; gave an explicit negation of the centrality of the “self.”

Answer 32

Chuang-tzu

Question 33

“The perfect man has no self; the spiritual man has no achievement; the true sage has no name.”

Answer 33

Chuang-tzu

Question 34

Its conception of selfhood entails conscious self-transformation leading to the attributes of a balanced life in harmony with both nature and society.

Answer 34

Chuang-tzu

Question 35

The Arabic word for “self” written in the Holy Qur’an.

Answer 35

Nafs

Question 36

It pertains to the psyche or the soul.

Answer 36

Nafs

Question 37

It is something, which has to be nurtured and self-regulated, so that it can progress into becoming “good” through its thoughts and actions.

Answer 37

Nafs/self

Question 38

In Islamic tradition, it is used both in the individualistic and collective sense.

Answer 38

Self

Question 39

They believe that they should assert and stand up for themselves.

Answer 39

Americans

Question 40

These cultures emphasize the moral worth of the individual.

Answer 40

Individualistic cultures

Question 41

They encourage asserting one’s goals and desires, and highly value independence and self-reliance.

Answer 41

Individualists

Question 42

They see each other as only loosely linked, and they value personal goals over group interests.

Answer 42

Individualists

Question 43

These cultures base their values and self-concept in a collectivist view.

Answer 43

Eastern cultures

Question 44

It refers to the mental processes that perceive one’s own traits or behaviors.

Answer 44

Private

Question 45

It refers to the generalized view of self, such as the perception of how others view you.

Answer 45

Public

Question 46

It refers to the view of self in a collective concept.

Answer 46

Collective

Question 47

It is often rendered as “proper conduct” or “propriety” which was originally denoted as court rites (rituals) performed to sustain social and cosmic order.

Answer 47

Confucian concept of LI

Question 48

It is a life-long commitment to learning.

Answer 48

Self-development