write:mainly due in large part to the growth in martial arts. (schools movies etc) however in addition to the fascination has come a bit of bewilderment at the apparent foreignness of

mainly due in large part to the growth in martial arts. (schools
movies
etc) however
in addition to the fascination has come a bit of bewilderment at the apparent foreignness of the traditions. The strange wise sayings
the emphasis on inner contemplation and strange practices have all contributed to this bewilderment. A good example of this is the idea prevalent amongst Asian philosophical traditions
especially Buddhism
that reality as we know it…..is an illusion! In addition
the Asian view of time and the universe is foreign. The universe is viewed as a unified whole
with all that exists as a part or manifestation of that whole.  This is known as pantheism. Which means that god(s)
as much as they exist
IS the universe. We are a part of the whole and our goal is then to return back to the whole
to become one with the universe. Time
in contrast to the Western model
is seen as cyclical. We tend to view time as linear
as past
present and future.  However
in the Asian model
time is seen as a continuum
with past
present and future coexisting simultaneously.