Comparative Religions
Lao Tzu – born about 604 B.C.E. Met Confucius who labeled Lao a dragon Enigmatic Larger than life Mysterious Lao supposedly became upset with the attitudes of the people and climbed on a water buffalo and headed west
On this westward journey he was stopped and was asked to write down his beliefs for civilization Three days he wrote He produced the Tao Te Ching – The Way and Its Power (aka the Taoist Bible) Most scholars don’t believe Lao himself wrote the whole thing They do agree that one man’s thoughts inspired the whole thing
Tao is the way of ultimate reality Too vast for reason to fathom It is the womb from which all life springs and to which it returns Tao is the way of the universe The norm The rhythm The driving power of nature It is spirit instead of matter It can’t be exhausted The more it’s drawn upon, the more it flows Tao is the way of human life It meshes with the Tao of the universe
Philosophical Taoism Vitalizing Taoism Religious Taoism All three of the above are different, but seek to maximize the Tao’s meaning of te Summarizing the three together: P.T. begins whith interest in how life’s normal allotment of ch’i can best be used. This leads to how ch’i can be increased (V.T.). Finally, gathering the cosmic energy of Tao is handled in R.T. See these three as currents in a common river
Reflective Self-help oriented Teachers are really coaches training students in what they should understand An attitude to life Has the most to say to the world Called “School Taoism” in China Lao Tzu Chuang Tzu Tao Te Ching
Knowledge is sought P. T. want knowledge that empowers (aka wisdom) P.T. want to live in a way that conserves energy by not expending it in useless ways Avoid friction and conflict Center on Wu Wei – pure effectiveness Main objective is to align one’s daily life to the Tao Ride its boundless tide and delight in its flow Find Creative Quietude – the balance between supreme activity and supreme relaxation
Called Taoist Adepts Wanted to increase the Tao at their disposal Center on Ch’i – vital energy (breath) Main objective is to remove objects that reduce the flow of ch’i Energy is the life force and these Taoists love life!
Concentrate on three things to maximize ch’i Matter Movement Their minds Ch’i is taken in it’s matter forms (liquid, gas, solid) through movements like t’ai- chi chuan. The mind increases ch’i through meditation. The meditation resembles raja yoga “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”
Religious Taoism institutionalized the shamans, psychics, faith healers, and soothsayers of the day. Taoist church was founded in the 2 nd century C.E. The Taoist priesthood made cosmic life-power available for ordinary villagers The church and it’s line of succession continues today in Taiwan
Water impressed the Taoists the most. Unobtrusive Adaptive Assumes the shape of its containers Seeks out the lowest places Subdues what is hard and brittle Carves canyons from granite Erodes hills Wisdom of water (wu wei) “Muddy water let stand still will clear”
Taoists value humility. They honor Hunchbacks Cripples They point out the value of Cups Windows Doorways
Taoists believe nature should not be exploited and abused, any more than people should be Nature should be befriended, not conquered. Humans are at their best when they are in harmony with their surroundings Man is often seen as climbing with their bundles, riding a buffalo, or poling a boat The human self with its journey The hill to climb The burden to carry But surrounded by the beauty of nature
Yin/yang Polar opposites Day – night Life – death Male – female On cannot survive without the other The two meet, mesh, but remain separate
Chinese Character is best represented by the two poles of Confucianism and Taoism ConfucianismTaoism CharacterClassicalRomantic BehaviorCalculatedSpontaneity/ Naturalness FocusHumanConnects the human to what transcends it BoundariesConfucius roams within Society Lao Tzu wanders beyond