Buddha Vs Confucius

Buddha and Confucius have very similar concepts in their teachings in terms of being detached from emotion and impulse. Throughout their respective texts, their teachings are very similar in their message and their end goal of finding the Middle Path or the Way. They do differ in the way that they have different levels of strictness with the enforcement of their teachings. I will assert that the concepts of the middle path and balance are similar in both Buddha’s Teachings and in Confucius’ Analects though the intensity of detachment and dedication to the religion in Buddha’s teachings is more intense than in Confucius’ Analects.

Both texts have similar definitions of where they feel that they will end up after their times on Earth are done.

The teachings of Buddha are strict as they truly encompass, “Self-control, Holy Life, perception of the Noble Truths, and the realisation of Nibbana” (What the Buddha Taught, 99). These are defined as the steps to find the way to Nibbana in Buddhism, and there are detailed examples of the Noble Truths that are there to set a precedence of detachment for those following Buddhism. This is different from what is found in Confucius’ Analects as Confucius does sometimes allow his emotions to run free with him. Though both Buddha and Confucius speak about not letting emotion run wild with you, Confucius shows that his emotions do take a toll on him in Analects 11.9 and 11.10 where Confucius’ follower Yan Hui dies and Confucius is thrown into grief. His followers confront him about this and when they ask about why he is not detached from his emotion, he replies with “In mourning such a man, what sort of grief would be proper?” (Analects, 1339). This is totally different from the teachings of Buddha and how does not allow himself to feel emotion under any circumstance. Detachment in the teachings of Buddha is more severe as Buddha teaches that by “Being dispassionate, he becomes detached; through detachment he is liberated. When liberated there is knowledge that he is liberated” (What the Buddha Taught, 96). This is important because in Buddha’s teachings, you must be entirely detached to be liberated and to find Nibbana, but in Confucius’ teachings, you can still feel emotion as long as you try to keep it from consuming you