Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism

• Buddhism comes from India, Confucianism and Taoism are from China
• Taoism and Confucianism are the most influential indigenous philosophies of China
• All began around 600 BCE

Taoism

• Yin Yang – shows balance between two opposites (duality). Shows the interdependence on one another and the perfect balance/harmony.
• Three Jewels of Tao:
• Compassion, Kindness, Love
• Moderation, Simplicity, Frugality
• Humility, Modesty
• Lao Tzu – Founder of Taoism (debate on if he actually existed)
  • Only two recorded stories about him
  • Credited as author of Tao Te Ching (primary text in Taoism)
• Second story – Lao is frustrated with the people in China especially leaders and vows to leave. Reaches border crossing on water buffalo, guard begs him to stay as he is a sage. Guard convinces him to write his ideas, he agrees and returns with them a day or two later. He leaves China, and those papers become the Tao Te Ching (most important book in Taoism).
• Tao means path, method, principle, or way.
• Organizing principle of the Universe, “way of heaven”.
• People can know that “way” through living in harmony with nature aka the cosmos and Universe.
• “The Way” – the path that one must follow in life, the flow of the universe.
• Argued that the Western translation that includes “The” implies a single path and damages the concept
• Wu Wei – action in non-action
  • By not interfering in the order of the Universe, you are following the order.
  • Not opposing nature
  • High/highest form of virtue – acting without thinking, doing by doing nothing.
  • “Going with the flow”
• Taoism focuses on genuineness, longevity, health, immortality, vitality, wu wei, detachment, refinement (emptiness), spontaneity
• Stay in harmony with the natural universe, do not disrupt the harmony that already exists.
• Purposeful acceptance of the way of the Tao.
• Seen as opposite of Confucianism
• Popularity rises and falls throughout Chinese history
  • Banned after communist takeover
  • Rises again after Cultural Revolution
• Basic Beliefs:
  • Deities – nature spirits, ancient heroes, 8 immortals who become immortal through Taoism, humanized planets and stars
  • Heaven – the Pantheon (modeled after China at the time)

Confucianism

• The Zhou Dynasty – 5^th and 6^th centuries
  • Political and social instability
  • Zhou dynasty defeats Shang dynasty
  • Brought most of China under a single government
  • Smaller territories formed into 7 states
  • Zhou lost much of their authority
• The Warring States Period
  • Warfare between states and Zhou
  • Conflict creates need for new innovative political and social models
  • “Intellectual Golden Age”
• New philosophies known as the “Hundred Schools of Thought”
  • Confucianism and Taoism became most influential
• Confucius (Kongzi or Kongfuzi)
  • Real, lived around same time as Lao Tzu
  • Ancestors were aristocrats who lost wealth by his time of birth
  • By 15, set himself to learn everything he could. Sought out best teachers
  • First actual teacher in China
  • Believed humans are teachable, perfectible
  • Learning for sake of self
  • Public service is integral to true education
  • Served in government (peace deals)
  • Saw his ideas of self-improvement and enlightenment were not appreciated in government and it was corrupt
  • Self-exiled for 12 years
• Confucianist Beliefs
  • Filial Piety – respect for one’s parents (most important part)
  • Ancestor worship: Humanness – connecting to other people
  • Ritual – reflect our societal values
  • Reciprocity – we are mutually responsible for one another
  • Five Relationships:
    • Parent and Child
    • Minister and Ruler
    • Older and Younger Brother
    • Husband and Wife
    • Friend and Friend
  • Government – when virtuous men lead by moral example, good government will naturally follow
  • Education – continued self-improvement through education for all
  • Adhering to social norms, our place in society
  • Doing what is expected, honoring parents, further enlightenment through education
  • Free thought is encouraged when it benefits society
  • Honor is critical

China’s Caste System

• One massive society (largest society population)
• Structured social system
• Emperor and nobility at top – Mandate of Heaven
• Scholars – low-level aristocrats
• Peasant Farmers – provide food for the entire society
• Artisans and Craftsmen – laborers who do not own land. Produce other goods of value
• Merchants and Traders – wealthy, but not in high standing in society

Buddhism

• Siddhartha Gautama – born 566 BCE to a warrior king
  • Given everything he wanted, but was kept locked away from the rest of the world
  • Curious and leave the castle to explore the world in multiple trips
  • Discovers the suffering that he had been sheltered from and mediates on the human condition (why we are here, what is our purpose, etc.)
  • Compassionate person for every living thing
  • Renounces all of his worldly possessions to become a monk and meditate on the suffering of the world
  • Reaches enlightenment and becomes “The Buddha”
• Buddhist Beliefs
  • Four Noble Truths:
    • The Truth of suffering
    • The Truth of the CAUSE of suffering
    • The Truth of the END of suffering
    • The Truth of the path to the end of suffering
  • Desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering
  • The Truth of suffering
    • The world is ALWAYS in some form of suffering – because humans are not perfect. This noble truth is critical to understand the other noble truths.
  • The Truth of the CAUSE of suffering
    • Suffering is caused by humans craving and wanting something. Greed and craving make us act irrationally (we can never be satisfied).
  • The Truth of the END of suffering
    • Stop our cravings for material things, stop our anger, ignorance, jealousy. Instead, seek inner peace and we can end our suffering and the suffering of others.
  • The Truth of the path to the end of suffering
    • Do not go to extremes in our lives, so we can live without attachment to material objects. Have balance in your life.
• Desire – the constant quest for material possessions, immortality, pleasure, etc. can only bring us suffering because the more we have, the more we desire. There is no ultimate attainment where we are satisfied.
• Ignorance – without the mental capacity to see the truth of the world, we succumb to greed, anger, hatred, and envy. This leads to suffering.
• Buddhism is NOT negative – you find happiness through acceptance of the true nature of the Universe.
• Karma:
  • NOT predetermined fate; good actions bring good karma
  • Karma affects happiness and can be built up
  • Happiness is essential to understanding the world and accepting the 4 noble truths.
  • Karma is NOT an eye for an eye (not situational)
  • Actions have karmic weight
  • Conditions which affect how strongly an action will impact your overall Karma:   
    • Frequency
    • Intention
    • Regret
    • Action against extraordinary persons
    • Actions against people who have helped you in the past
• Reincarnation:
  • 6 realms in which someone can be reborn
    • 3 fortunate
    • 3 unfortunate    
  • Placement depends on Karma in past
  • HIGHEST realm is that of men (people)
    • Gods and Demigods experience envy and cannot experience Nirvana (enlightenment). Only humans can.
• The Dalai Lama
  • Tibetan Buddhist Monk
  • Very important religious figure and head of state
  • For people practicing Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is a figure both divine and human
  • He assumes the form of an “ordinary Buddhist monk” but is actually an enlightened Buddha who has been reborn to help suffering beings.