Buddhism and Taoism

BUDDHISM:

Buddhism is a nontheist religion that does not believe in a supernatural god or creator. The ultimate transformation to which Buddhists aspire is to escape the world of suffering through our own efforts until we finally achieve Nirvana (the ultimate egoless state of bliss).

The originator of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in the foothills of the Himalayas in India. After renouncing his princely life, he embarked on a spiritual quest that would transform him into a Buddha, and enlightened being. This spiritual epiphany led to his developing the core beliefs on which Buddhism is founded. The foundation for Buddha's religious philosophy is contained in the four Noble Truths of suffering, from which all other dimensions of his thinking flow.

1. Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory:
Suffering and frustration-dukkha-is an unavoidable part of living. Happiness is fleeting, with unhappiness its constant shadow. Even the "self" is an impermanent illusion. In a view that foreshadows that of David Hume, what we view as our continual "I" is really a perpetually transient bundle of fleeting sensations, impressions, ideas, and feelings.

2. Suffering originates in our desires:
Desires are wishes for things to be different than they are. But none of these wishes can be achieved in a permanent fashion because life and the universe are essentially impermanent. And because our wishes are continually thwarted and events in the world are beyond our control, frustration and suffering are unavoidable.

3. Suffering will cease if all desires cease:
The only certain and final way to escape from suffering is by removing desire. this can be achieved only by realizing and accepting the fact that there is no unique, separate, permanent, immortal "self". Once we understand that our self is simply an impermanent flow of energy tied to the larger energies of the cosmos, we are freed to realize that desires and suffering are irrelevant. In practical terms, accepting the non-existence of a permanent self encourages us to live happily and fully in the moment. Liberated from self-centeredness and full of compassion for others.

4. There is a way to realize this state(The Noble Eightfold Path):
Extinguishing desire and suffering is a process that can be achieved by following the guidelines embodied in the Noble Eightfold Path, devoted to pursuing morality, focus, and wisdom. The Noble Eightfold Path is a systematic philosophy of life that enables people gradually to free themselves from desire and suffering, and achieve the ultimate peace of nirvana. This process typically extends over multiple lifetimes, as we are caught in the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. Once again, the "self" is not a permanent, immortal entity but is akin to a flame being passed from moment to moment, lifetime to lifetime.


DAOISM (TAOISM):

Daoism is a way of life inspired from the rhythms of natural phenomena. Daoism promotes a constant interaction with our environment and the importance of being aware of it.

Dao is believed to be the first cause of the universe. It is the "unnameable" and "eternally real" force that flows through life. and each believer's goal is to become one with the Dao. Although Dao can be translated as "path" or "the way", it is basically indefinable. Reality cannot be named or known through language, logic, or concepts- it must be experienced. Dao refers to the power that envelops and flows through all things, living and nonliving. The Dao regulates natural processes and balances the universe.

The founder of Daoism, Laozi, was searching for a that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that were disrupting society during his lifetime. The result was the composition of a book known as the Daode Jing. The book's philosophy is a practical concern with improving harmony in life, attuning oneself to the natural energies of the cosmos by being receptive and quiet.

Daoists do not pray to a supreme being; instead, they seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and observation. For the Daoist, time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. The entire cosmos is a manifestation of an impersonal self-generating energy called ch'i. This force has two aspects whose interplay causes the ever changing phenomena of the universe. Yin, is the dark, receptive, "female aspect"; Yang is the bright, assertive, "male" aspect. The Yin is considered to be the breath that formed Earth, whereas the Yang is the breath that formed the heavens. These two forces symbolize the pairs of opposites that are seen throughout the universe. Wisdom lies in recognizing the ever-shifting, but regular and balanced, patterns of movement of Yin and Yang and moving along with them. The Dao is this creative rhythm of the universe.

Daoists follow the art of wu-wei, which is to let nature take its course, rather than trying to impede it. To take a metaphor from the natural world, one should allow a river to flow toward the sea unimpeded, instead of erecting a dam that would interfere with its natural flow. Analogously, we should be like flowing water ourselves, bypassing and gently wearing away obstacles rather than aggressively attacking them, effortlessly moving through life without struggling, leaving all accomplishments behind without trying to hold on to them. We need to discern and follow the natural forces. Even when difficulties arise, the Taoist does not panic and take unnecessary action.