Eastern Philosophy: Analysis of Zen's View on Human Actions

This essay examines Eastern Philosophy, focusing on the concepts of acting and thinking as discussed in the 'Zen Sourcebook.' It explores the traditional views on habits, fear, and anxiety, contrasting them with Zen's perspective. The essay analyzes the impact of habits on human actions and suggests recommendations for adapting to a changing society, emphasizing the importance of self-nature, meditation, and will power. It contrasts the detrimental effects of acting based on habits with the benefits of overcoming fear and embracing courage. The essay highlights the teachings of Buddhism, particularly the role of Dharma, and provides insights into how individuals can control their desires and achieve overall well-being by identifying self-nature and acting according to the situation rather than habits. The essay concludes by recommending that individuals should consciously conquer challenges in their lives by using the techniques discussed, and also highlights the benefits of these recommendations.

Running head: EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
Eastern Philosophy
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The aim of the following essay is to discuss about the traditional ways of acting and
thinking as discussed in the book ‘Zen Sourcebook: Traditional Documents from China, Korea,
and Japan’ (Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman, 2008, p 36). The traditional concepts in this regard
should be taken into account. Few people have opined that this is sometimes detrimental or
useful. On the other hand, few have said that this is useful. In this juncture, it will be better to
analyze this issue in the best ways. Different authors have also provided other facts regarding
thinking and acting. It must be remembered that society is changing and people should act as per
the situations arise. However, some recommendations will be given in this paper as to how
people should act and think in this changing society. It is an integral matter since well-being of
people is the ultimate thing that matters the most. The views of Zen and opposing views will be
analyzed in this essay from several perspectives.
Viewpoint of Zen the book
According to book, habit of human beings is considered as the most important factor for
the ways a person would live his life. It is his choice how he would like to live his life. The
elements of fear, anxiety, distress, frustration and anger are present in the minds of almost every
people. The thought process differs and reactions to these factors are different as well. The
mindset is the ultimate thing that helps to eradicate all sorts of fears and anxieties from the minds
of human beings (Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman, 2008). Zen has spoken in favor of acting and
thinking according to habits. At first place it can be said that people like to act as per their habits.
If a person suffers from stress and anxiety all the time he or she will not be able to discard that
fear during the entire life. This fact can really be useful for people as Zen has proposed. In the

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words of the book, thoughts of human beings arise in their minds and they should possess that
power to suppress it (Borup, 2015, p 70).
It is detrimental to act and think as per habits because men would only react in difficult
situations with a sense of fear and anxiety. This might ruin their work completely. The Buddhist
theories have been quite enchanting in this discourse (Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman, 2008, p
45). The Bodhidharma is a kind of human perception that can alter the thinking process and
habits of human beings. The people should think differently from their habits and thoughts. It
will surely benefit them in certain ways (Gu & Guo, 2017, p 235). A perfect example can be
given regarding this scenario. If a person likes to eat fast food for its taste he has to understand
that he it can damage his body and internal organs. So, people have to be cautious about their
own health in this regard. If they act and think according to their habit they will never be able to
quit this habit. They have to show their willingness and possess control over his desires. Then
only people would be able to overcome their difficulties (Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman, 2008, p
37).
Acting and thinking are two important perspectives by which a person can live his life
properly. People will have to change their habits for benefits to their own life and career. A
person might be suffering from several difficult issues in their lives. This will be a disheartening
fact in his life (Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman, 2008, p 78). It is a phase that everyone should
learn to overcome. The human beings should avoid acting as per their habits and this will
probably do them good (Green, 2013). If they learn to overcome the fear they will surely find a
way to take some positive actions in the matters they feared. According to authors of the book,
human beings should learn to accept all the difficult situations in their lives without making any
complaints. The thing they should do is to stand in front of that situation and face it with utmost

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courage (Canda & Gomi, 2018, p 10). They should remember no difficulty is bigger than life
itself. This kind of motivation should be in their mind and lead them to be successful in their
venture. Their thinking process and acting accordingly will be the only crucial factor that matters
the most. This warrior mindset is the main key to success for all human beings (Green, 2013).
One should always remember that there is no point in getting upset in front of adversities.
Surrendering to difficult situations is the only thing cowards can do. Habits have to be changed
and fear should be replaced by courage (Borup, 2015, p. 70). This is why only brave people can
stand in front of different adversities. There is no point to be upset and give up. A man who is
always ready to fight with difficulties see the success very first. The key to success to tackle
with all the worldly conditions is the confidence and courage (Green, 2013, p 84). This is
probably the only way one can overcome the odds and emerge victorious. The teachings of
Buddhism have been quite interesting about how Dharma has shaped the world and minds of
people. As per the view of Zen, habits of human beings should not lead them to act or think
accordingly. All people should practice meditation and have a proper control over their senses.
Everyone should remember meditation gives human beings the power to control their senses
(Beauchamp & Rubinger, 2017, p 69). Human beings should identify self-nature and act
according to that only. No habits should lead them to control their actions (Canda & Gomi, 2018,
p 22).
The identification of self-nature will indeed be very much helpful for people in all
courses of life for every single human being (Gu & Guo, 2017, p 235). The people should let out
the wisdom of their own minds and follow the patterns how the difficulties could be tackled. The
followers of Buddhism have found when individuals will learn to perceive their self-nature they
will automatically learn to analyze the situations and act as per the scenario (Bradley, 2017).

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Recommendations for acting and thinking
As said before, acting and thinking are very crucial parts of life and this should always
depend upon the scenario and not habits of individuals. In this scenario, it must be recommended
that individuals will be successful when they see their self-nature and they can gain insight of
how they should act in difficult situations. People would be able to see their self-nature even if
they are engaged in battles. Problems might arise in front of people but they should keep pushing
for limits. Their habits might lead them to restrain from difficulties but they should not give up.
It is the duty of individuals to stay strong and not be controlled by their emotions and habits. If
difficulties arise multiple times they will have to overcome them repetitively. This self-nature
has no beginning or end.
So, fighting against odds is the only way out for them. People must also remember the
fact that they do not have any control over birth and death of human beings yet these things take
place every day on earth. If people fear death they will never be able to conquer their lives. That
is how people should look at life. Birth and death are not parts of human habits but people have
to admit these extreme truths at some part of their lives. However, it is quite sure that human
beings should abide by things said in the Dharma. The teachings of Buddha should be considered
as ways to live the life. Thus it is very much apparent that habits should not control lives of
human beings but their will power should. This is the way lives of human beings should go on
with the help of meditation.
Benefits of recommendations
There are indeed some benefits of these recommendations for human beings in the world.
The concept of meditation will be highly important from several aspects. If individuals learn to

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do the meditation properly they will have utmost control on their lives and desires. They will not
anymore be driven by their habits. The acting and thinking process for human beings will be
controlled by will power of individuals indeed. These are ways how human beings can have an
overall control over their lives. It is up to human individuals how they can confront these issues
properly.
Conclusion
In the concluding section, it can be stated that human beings should always be conscious
about the ways they can conquer the challenges in their lives. As Zen has admonished the acting
and thinking process by habits will be harmful for the development of life. If human beings are
led by habits they cannot form their own ideas. This will be detrimental for human beings
indeed. Individuals can take help of meditation as this will shape the thinking capacity of human
beings to a new level.

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Reference List
Addiss, S., Lombardo, S., & Roitman, J. (Eds.). (2008). Zen sourcebook: traditional documents
from China, Korea, and Japan. Hackett Publishing.
Beauchamp, E. R., & Rubinger, R. (2017). Education in Japan: A source book. Routledge.
Borup, J. (2015). Easternization of the east? Zen and spirituality as distinct cultural narratives in
Japan. Journal of Global Buddhism, 16, 70-93.
Bradley, C. (2017). Self, Attitudes, and Emotion Work: Western Social Psychology and Eastern
Zen Buddhism Confront Each Other. Routledge.
Canda, E. R., & Gomi, S. (2018). Zen philosophy of spiritual development: Insights about
human development and spiritual diversity for social work education. Journal of Religion
& Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 1-25.
Green, R. (2013). Buddhism Goes to the Movies: Introduction to Buddhist Thought and Practice.
Routledge.
Gu, M. D., & Guo, J. (2017). Mysticism of Chan/Zen Enlightenment: A Rational Understanding
through Practices. Dao, 16(2), 235-251.