Eastern Beliefs similarities (moral, Buddhism, pagan, catholic, moral)

[Victor]

This is an inventation to all those who wish to explain to me all the similarities of Eastern Based Beliefs. I will link you to a short convo that I was having with Seyorni so all can see where we left off.

How do you define the self?

Start on post #34.

The Least
~Victor

[michel]

I must admit to knowing little about Seyorni's beliefs; I have invited him to educate us; in the meantime, you might find it worthwhile visiting http://www.vedanta.org/wiv/overview.html , which I hope you will find interesting.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by michel

I must vadmit to knowing little about Seyorni's beliefs; I have invited him to educate us; in the meantime, you might find it worthwhile visiting http://www.vedanta.org/wiv/overview.html , which I hope you will find interesting.

Thanks, I will read and come back and post questions if I have any.

The Least
~Victor

[Victor]

Would it be fair to call the "Atman" equivalent to what we Christians call "natural law"?
Both are written in the hearts of men. How does the Eastern philosophy arrive at the same moral code amongst themselves.

~Victor

[Shadow Wolf]

Personally, I hold no book or writings to be 100% truth.
My theory an all the similarities is simple. All culture and civilizations are tracable to the first ones that formed in ancient Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. Even Christianity shares similarities with many pagan beliefs. Gilgamesh was betrayed by the people, died, and resurected, much like Christ. Gilgamesh also has a form of the Noah and the Ark story, as do many religions around the world. Inanna, a goddess of origins I cant remember, was impaled, and descended to the Underworld to defeat her sister, Ereshkagel, and then resurected to defeat death.
On a similiar level, why do the different Christians denominations have similarities? The answer is simple. They all originate from Catholicism.

[Seyorni]

Well! I stumbled upon this thread and found people talking about me behind my back. I'm quite impressed by Michel's link. Looking foreward to see what else develops.

[anders]

Originally Posted by Victor

similarities of Eastern Based Beliefs

Please specify which similarlities you think you find. Even if digging into concepts like nirvana, karma etc. that many westerners associate with Eastern beliefs, you will find innumerable differences between, say, Buddhism, Sikhism and Daoism.

Originally Posted by Luke Wolf

Personally, I hold no book or writings to be 100% truth.
My theory an all the similarities is simple. All culture and civilizations are tracable to the first ones that formed in ancient Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. Even Christianity shares similarities with many pagan beliefs. Gilgamesh was betrayed by the people, died, and resurected, much like Christ. Gilgamesh also has a form of the Noah and the Ark story, as do many religions around the world. Inanna, a goddess of origins I cant remember, was impaled, and descended to the Underworld to defeat her sister, Ereshkagel, and then resurected to defeat death.
On a similiar level, why do the different Christians denominations have similarities? The answer is simple. They all originate from Catholicism.

Christianity is a calque on several ancient Middle East religions; so far I agree. But you can't trace shamanistic cults of Siberia and other places, or all the religions of India, or Chinese philosophies, or tribal religions in just so many parts of the world, to that miniscule part of the world.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by anders

Please specify which similarlities you think you find. Even if digging into concepts like nirvana, karma etc. that many westerners associate with Eastern beliefs, you will find innumerable differences between, say, Buddhism, Sikhism and Daoism.

I'm sure there are numerous differences but I titled it as "similiraties" because this tends to be an easier way for me and others to understand things. Especially when dealing with so many cultures that are foreign to me and others. The goal to understand. If I note a similarity it is only so I can understand, I'm sure it's not exactly the same and that is why I want others who do know to note my misunderstandings. That's how we all learn.

The Least
~Victor

[Victor]

What is the difference between the god taking human form and god that is in you?

~Victor