Taoism

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Taoism
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Taoism

• The Way of Nature
• Taoism a way of studying and systematizing human
  life as well as natural life
• Nature observations and emulation are foremost

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Ancient Traditions roots

• Ancestor Worship
• Divination
• I Ching (Book of Changes)
• Supreme Deity
• Shang-ti
• Holy Mother in Heaven (guardian of the seas)

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Various Elements

• Eternal life-force
• chI
• selfgenerating, par with a xn soul
• Yin and Yang
• yin female, dark, receptive
• yang male, bright, assertive
• wisdom is in recognizing their ever shifting,
  always in balance cycle. The follower will flow
  with these cycles.
• The cycle is called the TAO (the way)

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The Tao Te Ching

• most translated after the Bible and the Karma
  Sutras
• Oral Tradition
• Very Ancient
• Written by Lao Tzu
• see page 167, text

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The Point of Taoism

• To study the order and system of natural life so
  that one can order ones own life to move with the
  flow. The path will necessarily weave as the
  cosmos around you changing
• read 52, 53, 54 from Tao Te Ching
• Requires great mental and physical discipline

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Life in Harmony

• Experience the transcendent unity in all things,
  not separation
• reconcile opposites on a higher level of
  consciousness
• Everything has its place and function in life
• no good or bad, small or large, disfigured or
  beautiful

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Life in Harmony continued

• Experience the universe that is directly
• cooperating with the ways things are, not making
  judgements, setting standards of morality, not
  labeling
• Story of Farmer and Horse
• Three in the Morning (text)

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A Low Profile

• A Taoist has a low profile in the world
• like a valley, allowing things to flow into life,
  like a stream
• Not working for recognition, doing it because it
  is their function to do it
• nourishes the ten thousand things of material
  life
• No possession of accomplishments, works
  effortlessly

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The Way of Water

• Flowing Water
• Water doesnt fruitlessly attack
• effortlessly flows around and over, gently
  removing obstacles

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Wu Wei

• doing nothing
• nothing contrary to nature
• not expending unnecessary energy
• non-interference
• nothing is evil, things are just out of balance
• Civilization with rigid views on morality, and
  intellectual attempt to improve what is generates
  chaos

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ChI-kung

• Very similar to Hindu meditation practice
• Ching - generative force
• ChI - vitality
• shen - spirit
• management of ones life-force is VERY important
• 171, text

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Mystical Practices

• I Ching
• Life is chaotic, sometimes answers dont come
• the brick wall scenario
• with meditation, washing, ask your question
• a direct line to the spirit world
• Tai-chi chuan
• see page 173, text

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Gods and Priests

• Some Taoists have priests, deities, etc.
• Eight Immortals
• humans who gained immortality with their own
  magic powers
• Hsien
• numerous gods
• ancestral spirits
• magic making
• ritual
• priests