What single thing separates western thought from eastern thought?

Question

Brevity is the order of the day please.

Answer 1

Individualism.

Answer 2

Eastern thought and Western thought are not that easily categorised there are many elements in Western thought that correspond to many elements in Eastern thought. If you mean the modern Western rationalist type of thinking then I suppose the answer would have to lie with Cartesian Dualism - the separation of the thinker from the thing thought about. In Eastern thought there is more emphasis on wholeness and process. In this sense the Western mind has dissected the flower whereas the Eastern mind has appreciated the flower as it is in it's environment. Once again however it is too simplistic to speak of 'Eastern' and 'Western' thought in this way.

Answer 3

Spirit is mind. And everything is made of spirit, which gets
complicated at our most material level.
The Earth is a living spirit. It functions just like the human mind. The Left Hemisphere of the brain being factual. The Western
Hemisphere of Earth technological. The Right Hemisphere of
the brain being creative. The Eastern Hemisphere of the Earth
being mystical.
I was ridiculed for putting this idea forth, but one person
thoughtfully asked, where does that leave the North and South.
I had already noticed a racial thing about the North and South
in America. The North was okay with blacks for the most part, and the South against blacks. There are two Latino gangs in LA.
The North and South. The North is okay with blacks, the South is
not.
I also read some material recently, which I feel was The Holy Spirit revealing more to me regarding this. In that a German man stated that Northern Germans are more aloof, and Southern Germans more emotional.
I never claim to know everything, and desire facts to back up any theories I might put forth, for clarity. I wouldn't want to make a fool out of myself at a later date. And I would be interested to know if the areas in the brain that respond to emotion are in the Southern area of the brain? A thought just came to me, do
endorphines, the brains natural pain killers, originate in the
Northern part of the brain? Aloofness?

Answer 4

Western Religion gives answers, Eastern Philosophy asks questions.

Less dogma in Eastern Religion.

In some Eastern Religions practicioners are encouraged to look within themselves for answers, rather than a priest or book.

- Cai

PS - Just to point out - Taoism in its pure form is not a religion but a philosophy. Someone mentioned it above.

Answer 5

In order to answer this question you have to think about how the "east" was established earlier than the "west".

Eastern thought is more collective with regard to "group think" and Western thought is more individualistic and autonomous.

Both are valid and are a part of the overall human experience, each is special and unique.

Answer 6

Do you want a religious anwser to this? Simple, different religions, different beliefs, different way of living. Just different.

However eastern thought is comprised of various political and religious stances, Chinese are communist and no religion, Indonesians muslim mostly democratic, Thai's mixture of buddism , christian and muslim but under a ditatorship or sorts, Indians mainly Hindu but democratic, middle east in part dictatorship/, part democratic part militant but all muslim. It is not enough to say one single thing, as many many things influence the thoughts of the western world as does the eastern world.

Answer 7

The Grenich Meridian

Answer 8

Western thought controlled largely by logical, linear left-brain thinking. Attaining the individual in spite of the larger group.

Eastern thought is more right-brained - seeking patterns, subtle connections, creative. Attaining harmony beyond the individual.

Both up for fairly easy manipulation by controlling influences if one is not careful. So each has their own set of myths and legends to try to step beyond.

Answer 9

In western thought the existential conclusion is "I am the material body and I possess a spirit soul"

In eastern thought, the conclusion is "I am the spirit soul and I am temporarily covered by a material body"

This produces a dichotomy of objective behaviour produced by the fundamental identification of who and what we are.

Answer 10

Programming

Answer 11

Eastern thought largely stopped developing centuries ago, while western thought has carried on growing and reacting with itself.