Buddhism Daoism, Confucianism, And

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Social inequality amongst people of different races and backgrounds is an enduring problem in many societies. Bigoted attitudes that take their roots in narrow minded thinking are infesting the minds of many, causing hatred, pain, and injustice. In order to combat this, one can incorporate the fundamental beliefs of Asian philosophies: Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. Buddhism can quell the tumult with the practice of everyday mindfulness, Daoism can show how human behavior could be naturally channeled toward benevolence, Confucianism can teach the importance of education and virtuous behavior in creating a harmonious society and Legalism can use laws and authority to take steps toward social equality. These Eastern ways of thinking …show more content…
In the eightfold path, right speech, understanding, speech, action, livelihood, concentration, effort, and mindfulness require one to contemplate how each aspect has the capacity to harm others if done incorrectly and take steps to make them “right”. By doing so, everyone strives to reduce the suffering of themselves and others. With the application of the eightfold path, the problem of social inequality could be assuaged. Accompanied by a calm mental state that can be achieved through meditation, mindfulness forces an individual to think more clearly without clouds of assumptions, bias, and hatred distorting one’s view of reality. Though, there is a stigma about minority groups being uneducated, violent, and inferior, there are many external factors that explain why this is so. For example, minorities such as African Americans and Hispanics in America are usually concentrated in poorer neighborhoods that restrict their opportunities for quality education and a well-paying job. To cope with rampant cycle of poverty, many turn to violence and drugs in order to survive. Such detrimental behaviors are not innately sewn into the fiber of their being; it is the accumulation of environment and circumstance. Thich Nhat Hanh a well-respected Vietnamese Buddhist monk parallels this situation with one between a mother and baby, “...see the …show more content…
In regards to social inequality, Daoism may allow the problem to work itself out without much strain or effort. According to the Dao De Jing, “...a kind person is the teacher of the unkind. An unkind person is a lesson for the kind to learn.” As an application of Daoism to social inequality, one may lead by example by treating others without judging them by their race, age, gender or background and as a result advocate equality. On the other hand, an individual may do the exact opposite and treat others unjustly. Others may witness this and see that as an example of what not to do. And in the end, that person is also advocating equality. Both examples teach the same lesson, yet in different ways. This philosophy does not call for interference; rather it asks individuals to trust in the Dao, the mysterious energy that governs all, to set everything in order. The Dao is a “treasure for those who are kind. It can also protect those who are not kind”. By this definition, everyone benefits from the Dao in some way. The Dao embraces the idea of yin yang; everything is nuanced and not strictly good or bad. Without oppression and inequality, one would not know equality. Equality and Inequality have parts of each other and are in a constant flux. Through the workings of the Dao, this balance is achieved without effort, so social inequality will be resolved
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