Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? (Laozi)
Thinking about the musings from DAY 26: The Validity Of Confucianism…
I would submit to you that once you understand the history of Confucianism, you understand that it was originally created as a philosophy and not a religion. I would further submit to you that once you understand this, it is the easiest belief system to cross off of your list when dealing with your soul and eternity.
With 4 of humanity’s major, belief systems already covered:
Day 18: The Basics Of Polytheism/Animism.
Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism.
Day 20: The Basics Of Hinduism.
Day 22: The Validity Of Hinduism.
Day 23: The Basics Of Buddhism.
Day 24: The Validity Of Buddhism.
Day 25: The Basics Of Confucianism. and
Day 26: The Validity Of Confucianism.
It is apparent that not only are the choices for you being narrowed down, but determining which belief system makes the most sense from an eternal perspective for you, is also becoming clearer as well.
The next, major belief system that we cover in class is Daoism or Taoism.
Like Confucianism and Legalism, Daoism was a third viewpoint for the Chinese to consider during the Warring States Period of 403 – 221 BCE, during the transition of the decline of the Zhou Dynasty to the rise of the Han Dynasty.
Legalism is just as it sounds, Chinese society being run under the weight of countless laws. With that being said, it is not a belief system per se, especially when comparing it to the other seven belief systems covered during the Foundations period: Polytheism/Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, and Christianity. That is why after this paragraph, there is no more need to discuss Legalism in terms of a religion because it has nothing to do with your soul from an eternal perspective.
Although it is possible to debate the founder of Daoism, from a traditional point of view, Laozi is the founder of Daoism…at least, as Daoism was intended in its original state.
Laozi believed in the following:
1) People need to be aware of not only their own feelings, but the feelings of others;
2) Once someone has reached this awareness, they would be able to recognize that their own needs were not always of the best interest of those around them and;
3) Once someone has recognized this, living in true harmony can be attained.
Laozi grew impatient with people and with the corruption he saw in government, which he believed was the cause of the people’s pain and misery. Unable to change people’s behavior, Laozi went into self-imposed exile.
Modern scholars in the West try to place Daoism into one of three ideologies:
1) Philosophy;
2) Religion or;
3) Both.
On the other hand, Daoist’s themselves do not necessarily believe in these ‘either-or’ situations. Instead, a Daoist would focus on one or more of the following:
1) The nature of reality;
2) How to increase their lifespan;
3) How to live a moral, orderly life;
4) How to rule and be ruled;
5) How to regulate your consciousness;
6) How to maintain a healthy diet and;
7) How humans interact with nature as a whole.
‘Dao’, loosely translated in the West, means ‘the path’, ‘the road’, or ‘the Way’.
Sort of…
It kind of depends on which Daoist book you read or which Daoist expert you speak to.
Daoism teaches that humans cannot possibly understand the Dao, because it is ultimately un-definable. The Daoist believes that ‘the path’, ‘the road’, or ‘the Way’ has to ultimately be experienced. This experience is unique for each individual who follows the Daoist path.
So that begs the question:
As a follower of Daoism, what is to be experienced…exactly?
The Daoist believes in a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. In addition, this power is the harmony of opposites, for example, there could be no love without hate…no light without dark…no male without female, etc..
This idea of contradictory opposites, which actually attract and complement each other, can be visualized through the Yin and Yang symbol:
So, is this experience called life? Nature? The nature of things? The Cosmos?
Again, it depends on which Daoist you speak to…and even after speaking with them, in the end it is…undefinable.
How do you apply Aristotle’s syllogism in order to come to a logical conclusion that the Daoism belief system makes sense when trying to figure out the universe and your role in it?
Well, that will be covered after some rest.
Do not feel discouraged if you are having a difficult time understanding the Daoism belief system. Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as whether or not the Daoism belief system is valid or not. Instead, embrace the idea that you, if reading these writings in order, now have 5 belief systems to work with, to compare and contrast. Embrace the idea that to continue seeking out knowledge to better your life now and in the future, is a good thing.
3And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:3 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 27: Daoism…Or Is It Taoism?
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began: