Emerson & Eastern Philosophy

[allil02]

Emerson was heavily influenced by Eastern thought and philosophy. Emerson's "Nature" heavily corresponds to the anecdotes of the Taoist Chuang Tzu, who was a leading figure in Chinese thought. In Chuang Tzu's writing entitled " The Adjustment of Contreversies," the necesity for society's "original relation to the universe" is discoursed between Tsze-khî and his disciple Tsze-yû. Tsze-yû, referring to the position of his mentor, asks him if the "body [was] made to become thus like a withered tree, and the mind to become like slaked lime." Tsze-khî then explains that he "had jut now lost [him]self." He then continues, telling his pupil that he would not yet be able to understand it--due to his subscription to the "notes of Man," instead of hearing " those of Earth." Or if he had, he had only heard them through the voice of man. This relates to Emerson's idea to immerse oneself in nature, and only there, one can find a "history of their own" and behold both "God and nature face to face."

In Chuang Tzu's "The Tree on the Mountain," he addresses the need for society to seperate, and to rejoin. He states that "Union brings on separation" which can lead to "overthrow." This is in line with much of what Emerson said regarding the necesity to enter and change the consensus of American society.
Chuang Tzu continues on to question the "possibility of unchangeableness," when "the quality of things" is defined or examined. He recognizes, as Emerson did, a need for reform.




nothingistic.org/library/chuangtzu/toc.html
^^Not the best of translations

[allil02]

I also just want to add that, Emerson was highly affected by other sects of Eastern thought as well. The only ones that I am somewhat familiar with though are Taoism and (vaguely) Buddism.
and:
Herman Hesse writes in his novel "Siddhartha" of the travels of a Buddhist monk named Siddhartha. In Siddhartha's travels, he meets Gotama ("The Illustrious One"), who has acquired enlightenment. Gotama believes that he can lead his many followers to enlightenment also, similarly to the way that Emerson preaches his beliefs, but in doing so mal-practices them. All is well for one to clear the path to the self, but the way the path will take many turns. To find the self of an individual, they must follow their own instinct, and abandon the explicit directions of society.

[alliet07]

There is definitely an obvious eastern influence on Emerson’s work especially with his themes of nature and self discovery. There is a heavy spiritual element in his essays, that reflects the need to teach yourself in order to be fulfilled.

[viveks02]

Also I think there is a small connection in Emerson's theory of drawing away from society's norms and his Eastern philosophy in that he grew up in a Western World but based his ideas outside of this society and in the Eastern teachings.

[caseyr7]

I agree with Vivek that there is even a large correlation between Emerson's idea of social independence and Eastern thought. It is highly necessary in Eastern culture to detach oneself from material possessions and even relationships in order to gain solace, similar to his idea of detaching oneself from society to think autonomously.

[danl02]

Here is another eastern thought that may have influenced Emerson:

Buddha had many disciples after he created his philosophy of Buddhism and all of its original concepts. However, after his death, one of the disciples was angry at Buddha, as the follower had obeyed his master for many years prior to the passing of the enlightened monk. However, the disciple had yet to be enlightened, and feared that his life was waste if he could not become enlightened prior to death. Angry at his master, the follower became depressed and left society for a while. However, when he returned to society, he claimed to be enlightened. Buddha did not show him the way; he simply taught that there was something out there that each person must strive for individually.

Like many Eastern scholars, Emerson, in my opinion, was hypocritical. Often times, he would preach against what he was preaching, not agree with all of his ideas or agree with enough as to make him remain hypocritical.

[Alma]

Greaat posts, Cheers.
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