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Similarities between views of man and nature greatly show the progression from Hinduism to Buddhism as the same ideas of everything being one and the same are expressed in different contexts. Both religions are also similarly based on attaining certain knowledge in order to reach salvation or Nirvana. Taoism and Confucianism have to be seen side-by-side as two distinct responses to the social, political and philosophical conditions of life two and a half millennia ago in China.
Whereas Confucianism is greatly concerned with social elation’s, conduct and human society, Ala Tug emphasized the need to look beyond the promises and treaties of human beings for a source of peace and contentment; and he urged to return to nature’s way, that is, a simple and harmonious life. Chuan Tug developed Taoism emphasizing on the natural way as opposed to the artificial and contrived way of persons. The Tao is similar to the Christian God in that is omnipresent and all powerful. It is also an impersonal, impartial force, however, much like “the force” of George Lucas’ Star Wars.
Tao means, more or less, “the way f things,” both material and immaterial, not dissimilar to the Buddhist term dharma. Taoism centers upon the absolute necessity, uniqueness, pervasiveness and indefinable elusiveness of this peculiar “way. ” The following passage from the Tao Et Chining is a typical description of the Tao. “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. ” Confucius thought that the problems of his time originated from sovereign power used without moral principle.
To cure this problem, he urged that the government should be administered for the benefit of all the people; and this is possible if the government officials were of the highest personal integrity and cared about the people as much as they did about themselves. (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you). 3. Perfection can be realized by following the inner Way (Tao) of nature. Tao is manifested in the workings of nature, for what individual things possess of Tao is the et, or function, of Tao. Tao, as a source, provides for the very existence of beings, but Hinduism and Buddhism vs..
Confucianism and Taoism By lushness inherit from Tao as their function. “Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone. ” Non (artificial) action is letting things be accomplished in a natural and spontaneous way. The word “Jean” means ‘virtue,’ ‘benevolence,’ true womanhood,’ ‘moral character,’ ‘love,’ ‘human goodness,’ and ‘human-heartiness’. What makes us human is a matter of feeling as well as thinking; Chinese emphasize on the heart, rather than the reason, as the central feature of human nature. To realize Jean, guides to action in everyday life are needed.
Confucius found these guides in the rules of lie (propriety). Lie governs customs, ceremonies, and relationships established by human practice over the ages; and Jean is realized through lie. Jean is the ground of II; what makes lie a standard of conduct is the fact that it is in accord with jean. Customs and regulations not in accord with Jean are not really lie. By II, we tame our unruly impulses and transform them into civilized expressions of human nature: that is, lie is the means by which our humanity Cent) can be evoked and developed.
Lie is the principle by which the ancient kings embodied the laws of heaven… ” The word “11” means propriety in everything: moral discipline in personal conduct, the general principle of the social order, ritual and ceremony, a system of social relationships with definite attitudes toward one another, love in the parents, filial piety in the children, respect in the younger brothers, friendliness in the elder brothers, loyalty among friends, respect for authority among subjects, and benevolence in rulers.