East* vs. West

Beliefs, Life Philosophies,
Cultural Values, Attitudes

 

East vs. West cultural differences: One World One Way many paths

 

Vadim Kotelnikov (VadiK), founder, Innompic Games speaker trainer

"The most important is to see the Earth
not as a big planet to survive on but
a small planet
to take care of."

~ VadiK

 

We need to understand cultural differences not just to reduce conflicts, but also to leverage diversity and achieve cross-cultural unity. That's what we do.

 

 

 

Broadly, speaking, Western society strives to find and prove "the truth", while Eastern society accepts the truth as given and
is more interested in finding the balance.


Westerners put more stock in individual rights; Easterners in social responsibly.

 

VadiK Cultural Intelligence Eastern vs. Western Life Philosphy Cross-Cultural Differences Life Design Fun The Wheel of Life in Buddhism Health Life-Business Synergy Sustainable Development Finance Learning The Wheel of Life Achuevement Friends & Family The Wheel of Life: East vs. West The Wheel of Life in Buddhism teachings: Mandala Balanced Wheel of Life: NLP Approach Life Philosophy: East, West, and between them Cultural Differences: East vs. West the wheel of life

 

 

Eastern Philosophy

Western Philosophy

Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Integral Yoga, Islam, Taoism, Zen

Christianity**, Rational, Scientific, Logical schools

 

 

East

  Main Principles

West

Cosmological unity

Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the realities that surround us

Circular  view of the universe, based on the perception of eternal recurrence

Inner-world dependent

Self-liberation from the false "Me" and finding the true "Me". The highest state is believed to be a state of 'no-self', where neither self-worth nor self-importance have any real meaning.

Behavioral ethics

Feeling oneself as an element of the Divine

Life is a service (to the God, money, business, etc.)

Linear view of the universe and life, based on the Christian philosophy where everything has its beginning and the end.

Outer-world dependent

Self-dedication to the goal (big dream, life vision, happiness, personal success, etc.)

 

 

East

   Living Principles

West

Virtue

Ethic

"To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness." ~ Confucius

"Be satisfied with whatever you have, and enjoy the same. When you come to know that you have everything, and you are not short of anything, then the whole world will be yours." ~ Lao Tzu

"The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings." ~ Buddha

"Refrain from doing ill; for one all powerful reason, lest our children should copy our misdeeds; we are all to prone to imitate whatever is base and depraved." ~ Juvenal

"Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." ~ Socrates

"There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated from right living." ~ David Starr Jordan

 

   

The Bridge

"One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love." ~ Leo Tolstoy

"Imagine all the people livin' life in peace.. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one." ~ John Lennon

 

 

 

Dare to love, prusue your dream, change the world quotes Vadim Kotelnikov Innompic Planet of Loving Creators

Innompic Games

All-win World Innompic Games turn the Earth to a peaceful Planet of Loving Creators and nourish cross-cultural unity. Both Easterners and Westerners love to contribute to this noble mission, yet Easterners do so more enthusiastically and joyfully.

 

 

 

East

 The "Me" concept

West

Eternal reality of the universal truth: self-liberation through getting rid of the false "Me" and discovering the true "Me"

"Me" is here and now. The true “Me” in every human being is a part of the Divine that need to become apparent. True “Me” is given and doesn’t have to be cognizable.

 

 

East

 Relationship with Religion

West

Deep integration

Pretended integration

 

 

East

Search for Truth & Fundamental Research

West

The truth is given is does not to have be proved.

The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research is weaker.

The truth needs to be proved.

The philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research is stronger.

 

 

East

Search for Absolute Truth

West

Holistic approach – all events in the universe are interconnected

Searching inside oneself – by becoming a part of the universe through meditation and right living

More focused on individual events and the role of the person

Searching outside oneself − through research and analysis

"Though he should live a hundred years, not seeing the Truth Sublime; yet better, indeed, is the single day's life of one who sees the Truth Sublime." ~ Buddha

"The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe."
~ H.L.Mencken

 

East

Beliefs and Values

West

The true key is inside. The inner world of a human being and his or her ability to control and develop it is of the highest value. The way to the top is inside yourself, through self-development.

The main values are success and achievement. These that can be achieved in many ways, but rarely through developing  inner strength. The majority of success  and achievement criteria have an external nature (money, faith, popularity, etc.). The way to the top is through active outside intervention.

"Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is." ~ Bhagavad Gita

"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell."
~ Confucius

"By chasing desires you will meet only the outer surface." ~ Lao Tzu

"Happiness lies in virtuous activity,
and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative."
~ Aristotle

 

East

Future

West

Your future is determined by the past and your deeds today.

Your future is unknown, it was predetermined by God and is not much influenced by your deeds.

"Study the past if you would like to divine the future." ~ Confucius

"You can never plan the future by the past."
~ Edmund Burke

 

East

 Justice

West

Spiritual practice

Cerebral practice

"There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst. " ~ Aristotle

 

East

Individualism / Collectivism

West

A human being is an integral part of the universe and the society. People are fundamentally connected. Duty towards all others is a very important matter.
Collectivism is stronger.

A human being has an individualistic nature and is an independent part of the universe and the society. Individualism is stronger.

 

East

 Improvement / Evolution

West

Cyclic development, hence improvement is a never ending journey that has no limits.

Linear development, hence improvement has a goal. Development stops when the goal is reached.

 

   

Example: Kaizen (continuous improvement)

In Japan, Kaizen focuses on improving people. While adopting this continuous improvement strategy, the West refocused Kaizen on improving processes.

 

 

 

 

 

 East

Radical Innovation / Revolution

West

The fundamentals of the status quo should not be questioned. The culture of considering and introducing radical changes is weaker.

The fundamentals of the status quo can – and often should – be questioned. The culture of considering and introducing radical changes and innovation is stronger.

 

Vadim Kotelnikov advice quotes

Coaching by Example

Vadim Koelnikov personal logo

 

Innovation Process  jazz-like improvisation within a guiding structure Vadim Kotelnikv

Innompic Games

At World Innompic Games intellectual Olympics for innovative entrepreneurs − Westerners are stronger in inventing revolutionary solutions, while Easterners are better at inventing evolutionary innovations and improvements.

 

 

 

 East

Passion & Venturing

West

Entrepreneurial creativity and venturing is contained by the habit to control one's passions.

Entrepreneurial venturing is encouraged emotionally.

"Desires are the cause of suffering. If desire, which lies at the route of all human passion, can be removed, then passion will die out and all human suffering will be ended."
~ Buddhism

"Vain indeed is all overweening pride in the conquest even of the entire universe if one has not conquered one's own passions."
~ Sri Aurobindo

"Nothing is ever achieved by reasonable men."
~ J Fred Bucy of Texas Instruments

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm... Always do what you are afraid to do... Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you want to succeed, you have to forge new paths and avoid borrowed ones." ~ John Rockfeller

 

East

 Achievement & Winning

West

Winning is inside yourself. >>>

Winning is outside yourself.

"Though he should conquer a thousand men in the battlefield a thousand times, yet he, indeed, who would conquer himself is the noblest victor."
~ Buddha

"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." ~ Lao Tzu

"The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." ~ Mohammad

"You're not a star until they can spell your name in Karachi."
~ Roger Moore

"Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one stop of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified."
~ Samuel Johnson

 

Vadim Kotelnikov advice quotes

Coaching by Example

Vadim Koelnikov personal logo

 

Happy winners Planet of Loving Creators Innompic Games India Malaysia Russia Vietnam

Innompic Games

World Innompic Games  − intellectual Olympics that help participants grow as loving creators and where everybody wins are embraced by Asian countries faster because the philosophy of conquering oneself is dearer to them.

 

 

 

East

Implementation

West

Spiritual and missionary approach.

Pragmatic and emotional approach.

"To create and develop without any feelings of ownership, to work and guide without any expectation and control, is the best quality"
~ Lao Tzu

To achieve self-liberation and nirvana you need to perform your duties without expecting any reward for it. ~ Vedanta, Hinduism

"Action can be achieved by inaction, where the result is achieved by "Not-Me" ~ Zen

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play."
~ Arnold Toynbee

"Since most of us spend our lives doing ordinary tasks, the most important thing is to carry them out extraordinary well."
~ Henry David Thoreau

"Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution." ~ Brian Tracy

 

 

 

East

Goals & Key to Success

West

Spiritual

Materialistic

"Live a virtuous life and adhere to performing your duties." ~ Confucianism

"The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose." ~ Confucius

"If you really want everything, then give up everything." ~ Lao Tzu

"He is able who thinks he is able." ~ Buddha

"The secret of success in life, and subsequently of making money, is to enjoy your work. If you do, nothing is hard work – no matter how many hours you put in." ~ Sir Billy Butlin

"Success is that old ABC – ability, breaks and courage." ~ Charles Luckman

"Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success." ~ Dale Carnegie

 

East

Establishing Control Over Your Emotions

West

Through meditation

Through analysis

A man can separate his/her mind from his/her emotions and control them. ~ Taoism

"I can control my passions and emotions if I can understand their nature." ~ Spinosa

 

East

Leadership

West

Spiritual
Walking behind people; silence is golden

Hands-on
Walking ahead of people; speech is golden

"In order to guide people, the leader must put himself behind them. Thus when he is ahead they feel no hurt." ~ Lao Tzu

"Leadership is done from in front. Never ask others to do what you, if challenged, would not be willing to do yourself." ~ Xenophon

 

Vadim Kotelnikov advice quotes

Coaching by Example

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Leadership East-West style Vadim Kotelnikov, KIET, India, Innompic Games

Eastern-Western Leadership

Here is an illustration of a mixed Eastern-Western leadership style: as the leader, I am in front (Western style), but I am not seen (Eastern style).

 

 

 

 

 

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* Eastern philosophy is a group of philosophies and religions originating in Asia – China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Arabic countries

** Through Christianity originated in Asia geographically, culturally it's considered to be a Western religion that originated in the Mediterranean region

 

One World, One Way, Many Paths  World  =>  Countries  =>  China  / India      / Japan  /  Russia      / USA

 

 

 

 

 

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