Chinese Philosophies

[emily]

Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism?

[emily]

Yes! Taoism is winning!

[Axtech]

Could you maybe explain them for those of us who don't know all three?

[emily]

Who voted for what? Taoism is still winning!

[emily]

Which ones do you know?

[Axtech]

Could you maybe explain them for those of us who don't know all three?

[joe_canadian]

There's a right and a wrong answer to world religions now?

[emily]

i was just kidding! sheesh.

[Axtech]

Which ones do you know?

A little Buddhism.

[Axtech]

Very little...

[emily]

Confucianism = Rules, precise ways of doing things.
Tao = Literally in Chinese means "the way" there is a certain flow to the universe and nature that should not be altered, also be happy while you are alive.
Buddhism = Well, you've all heard of nirvana. All of them practice meditation but I think Buddhism moreso. I have not studied it as much.

[joe_canadian]

To be fair, there is a lot more to each of them..

[Axtech]

I like the idea of Buddhism.

Accepting all religions that promote love, looking for inner peace.

[emily]

Yes, but although reaching nirvana is possible during life, it is moreso after death. That's what I don't like about it. You try to get nirvana to get away from the suffering of life. Taoism teaches that life doesn't have to be suffering.

[joe_canadian]

"Next time on Smartline: World Religion, which is the right one?"

[emily]

Old Taoist story written by Chuang-Tse, if I am correct:
There was once a stonecutter, who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day, he passed a wealthy merchant's house, and through the open gateway, saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stonecutter. He became very envious, and wished that he could be like the merchant. Then he would no longer have to live the life of a mere stonecutter.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that 1 could be a high official!"

Then he became the high official, carried every- where in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around, who had to bow down before him as he passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought. "I wish that I could he the sun!"

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a cloud!"

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" he thought. "I wish that 1 could be, the wind!"

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, hated and feared by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it a huge, towering stone. "How powerful that stone is!" he thought. I wish that I could he a stone!"

Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he beard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock, and felt himself being changed. "What could he more powerful than I, the stone?" he thought. He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.

And I already told you I was joking about the wrong and right thing.

[sandsleeper]

buddhism all the way. and i believe it was originally Indian.

taoism is a close second though. i dig the whole harmony with nature thing and the yin and yang. but i don't think that taoism takes personal salvation into accout as much as it should. buddhism emphasizes that as well as some of the reverences for nature and other living creatures.

[emily]

Sorry. Yes it was. Siddharta Gautama. I should change the title to Southeast Asian. Buddhism is very similar to Hinduism, and Siddharta was at first Hindu.

[emily]

if you go to amazon.com and search for the Tao of Pooh, it shows some excerpts of pages from the book and I like that explanation of Confucianism, Buddhism,. and Taoism

[joe_canadian]

ooo... I like that story