Why are Eastern people more spiritual?

[Sanity Panda]

Originally Posted by Cantando

Btw, did you know that South Korea and Japan are increasingly recognized as being part of the West?
So, the concept nowadays has not so much to do with geographical location, but more of having a common ground in culture, economics, democracy, law, beliefs, etc.

That's rather interesting to hear. They have essentially associated west with first world countries? I wouldn't think of Japan having culture etc similar to european countries etc, but could easily see how economics, democracy and law might become similar. Suppose it depends on which definition we go along with, for me it's always been cultural.

Back the the OPs question. Considering that asia especially china has high conformity based attitudes, I would not think of the east as being more spiritual. At one point of time, like most places, the east or middle east had the upper hand on science before they removed it all.

Is it possible that we're just referring to the religions? Eastern one is seen by many to be more relaxed and flexible, being philosophies. At the same time I'm sure that there are many people who are very strict on rules etc.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Sanity Panda

That's rather interesting to hear. They have essentially associated west with first world countries? I wouldn't think of Japan having culture etc similar to european countries etc, but could easily see how economics, democracy and law might become similar. Suppose it depends on which definition we go along with, for me it's always been cultural.

Whilst the older culture of Japan is different from that of the West, the more modern, urban culture is similar. Since the Second World War, Japan has become more democratised and has increasingly adopted similar lifestyles to that of the West, along with similar attitudes to subjects like freedom of religion, speech, artistic expression, the freedom to work, the right to a fair trial, to vote, to travel, etc.- many of the things we take for granted in the West, but which are still sadly lacking in many countries in the East.

And, let's not forget, also, that Islam is one of the biggest religions in the East.

Islam is Indonesia's dominant religion with approximately 88%, over 300 million, of its population identifying as Muslims, making it the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world. (Wikipedia)

It is a matter of debate whether they are all so relaxed, spiritual and laid back.

I sense in the OP a bit of a hangover from the 1960's, idealized, hippie view of the East, where the fact of someone arriving in the West from India, for example, automatically qualified them as being some kind of spiritual guru.

[James81]

Because Eastern cultures are more introverted in nature and western cultures are more extraverted in nature.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by spacedout

These are some great and varied answers that got me thinking.
I know, I'm not supposed to do that, but the "monkery mind" took over.
Anyway, here goes:
some aggressive people (Vikings, Englishmen, Germans, etc.) ventured out and settled in the Western world and established a democracy that allowed them to be free and do what they wanted.
Their religion was Christianity; not Hindu, Buddhism, or anything really spiritual. Since they had freedom to do and think as they pleased, they invented all kinds of stuff and became very industrious. They work hard, play hard and think a lot.

How's that?

I still think, what I thought, about the OP: You can't make "generalizations" about a people, or a country, or something even larger (no matter how big your wheelbarrow is)
why?
because EACH 'individual' person, is, structures, & functions in truly unique ways. Understand?

And so easterners aren't, any more spiritual than are westerners; and vice versa.

The same goes for defining "spirituality": Considering the soul also lives unfettered outside a person's body: now you're talking meta-physical: which most westerners have little reference points for. & such populations are fairly lost, especially most christians, sad to say. - And don't get me wrong, I am a Christian too. - which is another good example, of relating to EACH 'individual' person, as he or she is. - makes sense?

[spacedout]

Outstanding replys Contando, SanityPanda, James81 and SK8joyful. This is very good food for thought. My OP had to do with my observation that Eastern people seem to be more spiritual than Western People. Now I see the errors of my way in stating my observation the way I did. How about if I had said that it looks like people from India seem to be more spiritual than other people?

As far as SK8joyful's comment about not being able make generalizations about a country because each individual, in thst country, is unique; I do beg to differ. Although each individual is unique, their uniqueness blends together and produces a unique country eg. Japan vs India vs UK vs Australia etc. Each pea is different and unique in its own way but when blended together the end result is pea soup not beef stew.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Cantando

Yes, but please note the difference between 'east' (the geographical position relative to where you are) and 'the East' (or the Eastern World) which are long recognized terms to denote, not only the location of, but also all of the habits, culture and belief systems of Asia.

France, Germany, Spain and Italy are part of Europe, the West, the Western World. That is not just my personal opinion, or a matter of arbitrary usage. It's fact.

Added:

Btw, did you know that South Korea and Japan are increasingly recognized as being part of the West?
So, the concept nowadays has not so much to do with geographical location, but more of having a common ground in culture, economics, democracy, law, beliefs, etc.

I'd never heard that. I've always heard the East/West dichotomy to refer to spirituality and life values, while political and economical development were connotated by the North/South dichotomy. So Europe, North America and Australia are in the West, while India, South East Asia and Far Eastern countries are in the East. Western Europe, Japan, North America and Australia are in the North, while Africa, South East Asia and South America are in the South...

[newsbone]

Originally Posted by spacedout

How about if I had said that it looks like people from India seem to be more spiritual than other people?

Simple, in the ‘east’ they still value tradition and respect the family as an institution while the ‘west’ tradition has been discarded in favour of individual freedom and the family fragmented to ‘me, myself and I’.

[newsbone]

Originally Posted by aelle

I'd never heard that. I've always heard the East/West dichotomy to refer to spirituality and life values, while political and economical development were connotated by the North/South dichotomy. So Europe, North America and Australia are in the West, while India, South East Asia and Far Eastern countries are in the East. Western Europe, Japan, North America and Australia are in the North, while Africa, South East Asia and South America are in the South...

Where does Africa lie in the east/west dichotomy?

[spacedout]

I don't know. Maybe Cantando knows.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by spacedout

I don't know. Maybe Cantando knows.

I asked you first!

I think spirituality is an individual thing, regardless of race, religion, tradition or location. It's chief outward expression is love and compassion. This seems to be built into the human psyche/soul at a very deep level and transcends the desires of the outer self/ego. Though an individual experience, it is much more powerful and effective when expressed collectively (when two or more are gathered together) - hence the growth of religions.

All religious practices and beliefs, whether they are from the east, west, north or south are attempts to develop this inner state and reconcile it with the outer world we live in. Even the more primitive practices, such as human sacrifice, voodoo, etc, are attempts to manifest this inner state and transcend the ego.

Christianity combined Middle Eastern teachings with those of Hellenism. St Paul and others successfully managed to fuse the 'mystery' aspect of the embryonic religion with the logical philosophy of the Greeks, which made it acceptable to the Western Greco/Roman world. It became an outward pointing religion (go forth and preach to all nations), focusing on outer works and charitable acts, as well as inner prayer and contemplation. This outer zeal, unfortunately, when taken up and used by aggressive, expansionist rulers, led to the invasion and colonization of other countries, as we all know.
As other posters have noted, Eastern teachings have tended to remain somewhat passive and interiorized.

Eastern philosophy has tended to reject the self and the world as illusion (maya), unreal, as something to escape from through meditation and self-denial. However, this is somewhat of a generalization. There have been times in history where the teachings of the East have expanded beyond the confines of the monastery, and incorporated into initially defensive, and then aggressive, martial arts and practices (e.g. the Samurai warriors).

While Christianity does indeed embrace the teaching of self-sacrifice and avoiding the pleasures of the flesh, it also sees the world as something to 'work with' and improve, using our God given intellect and ingenuity. The Westerner/Christian sees nothing wrong in trying to improve one's circumstances, or fighting to resolve a problem, rather than sitting in meditation and hoping the 'problem' will go away. The United States would not otherwise have been successfully populated by the largely Christian immigrant peoples of Western Europe.

I concede the point (on reflection) that, perhaps, Japan and South Korea, are not truly part of the Western World, but rather, are Westernized (I think there is a difference). They have adopted/copied Western lifestyles and values, but are still essentially Eastern countries. The difference between these countries and Australia, for example, which is considered to be part of the Western World, is that Australia was colonized by white Europeans and the native population was subjugated. This did not happen in Japan or South Korea.

Africa is different, in that, although colonized by white Europeans, there was always a huge native population, which was never subjugated. And, of course, since the 1960's, political power has passed from the white, Western rulers to native rulers. Perhaps we could say that some of the wealthier African cities are Westernized, but the countries, themselves, are still African in all respects (neither Eastern nor Western), although north Africa is heavily influenced by Middle Eastern and Islamic culture.

[spacedout]

Well, I would say, from your explanation Cantando, this makes discerning the Western world from the Eastern world rather difficult and unamenable. According to your explanation, if the United States adopted the philosophies of India or if the U.S. were to be taken over by people from India, the U.S. would then become part of the Eastern World. Am I reading you correctly?
There must be an easier way to discern the East from the West.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by spacedout

Well, I would say, from that explnation Cantando, that makes discerning the Western world from the Eastern world rather difficult and unamenable. There must be an easier way to do it.

Agreed.
Let's go back to your artificially created Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude) then, which divides east from west.
The line runs through Greenwich, which lies just south of London.
If you take one step to the left of that imaginary line, you are in the West, and hence less spiritual. If you take one step to the right, you are in the East and therefore more spiritual.
Simple!

[spacedout]

Wheeh, finally.

[p0rkytso]

I think spirituality comes from all different sources/cultures; although you could be somewhat correct in terms of westernised culture and eastern cultural differences.

Just as religious beliefs, i think there's no real start/end to it all... spirituality is a journey to seek out truth and enlightenment for every individual.
It does no matter if you are white/brown/yellow or even not from this planet earth; i believe strongly that we are all from the one source "the universe"

Today's society is constantly moving so rapidly that we can barely keep up with it all, religions claiming to be more powerful than others; beliefs distorted and changed; CORRUPTION and fed lies to misjudge truth.

I am of an Asian ethnic background and was raised a catholic; went to school and was taught certain things about Christianity/Catholicism (which makes no real difference to what i believe today) A majority of people I know are not spiritually in-tuned even if they have certain religious beliefs, often thinking that Praying to "GOD" is enough...

This is just my personal opinion and no way is it to offend anyone out there who is reading this.

[spacedout]

East is east and west is west and the wrong one I have chose.