taoism Flashcards
1
Q
lao-tzu early life 3
A
- title means old master, real name li er
- archivist for western zhou dynasty
- instead of confucious supporting govt, lao-tzu wanted top start again
2
Q
lao-tzu migration to mongolia 3
A
- started own society
- in order to leave china at border, asked to write down essence of his wisdom which made the Tau Te Ching
- image of riding ox: hard sustainable work, endurance, strength
3
Q
tao te ching 3
A
- 2 parts of tau and te
- small, ab 5000 words
- lao-tzu argued language can not contain the ultimate, therefore taosim uses metaphor, poetry, and riddles to describe the ultimate
4
Q
main beliefs 2
A
- freedom from socio-political restraints
- freedom from the limitations of this life
5
Q
freedom from socio-political restraints 6
A
- human behaviour, especially elaborate government, is folly and oppression and tries to create undesirable sameness
- anomyminity, contemplation, and seclusion better
- asceticism helps to purify sense and passions which distort perceptions of reality
- good leader not to be known
- organized education obstacle to true understanding and spirituality
- classification irrational (ex of beauty and ugliness
6
Q
freedom from limitations of this life 2
A
- death neither good nor bad, merely natural and should not be lamented
- but… life is greatest of all possessions, and one should seek immportality
7
Q
hsien
A
an immortal
8
Q
how to become immortal 5
A
- simplicity and oneness with nature
- the tao
- te: the power of virtue
- wu-wei: inaction as action
- harmony of due proportions
9
Q
simplicity and oneness with nature 5
A
- learn from observing nature, for ex…
- work with circumstances instead of trying to control them
- spiritual freedom comes from transcending self interest - freedom found only in nature itself
- always seek to view the world with a sense of wonder (no prejudice)
- reality consists of constant change, change only certainty
10
Q
the tao 4
A
- metaphorically described as a path in a forest or a slow-going stream
- the ultimate reality - all that is
- the principles that control the universe
- also.a way of living that brings you into harmony with the universe
11
Q
te (what it is and 3 core virtues)
A
- the power of virtue
- simplicity (in action and thought)
- patience (to both friend and enemy)
- compassion (towards self, all beings, therefor reconciling all things_
12
Q
wu-wei 4
A
- inaction as action
- force will defeat itself
- not doing or striving, nature does not hurry but everything is accomplished
- metaphor of water
13
Q
wu-wei metaphor of water 5
A
- going with the flow of the tao to open oneself to the workings of the universe
- releasing ego - most processes of life not under our control
- giving nature/life a chance to unfold
- ceasing to strive - water has no specific desire yet nourishes all
- embracing the power of gentleness to overcome hardness/resistance (water carves and shapes stone)
14
Q
harmony of due proportions 5
A
- imbalance = confusion and chaos
- balance = peace and harmony
- if tao is in balance, it is possible to find perfect happiness
- feng shui
- tai chi
15
Q
feng shui 6
A
- balancing chi/energy/life force in a space
- 5 elements of fire, metal, water, earth, and word
- no straight lines so chi does not go to fast
- all ab balancing wind (feng) and water (chi)
- light and dark also used in homes (yin and yang)
- numerology (4 bad, 8 good)
16
Q
tai chi 2
A
- balancing chi/engery within the individual
- 108 poses joined in variable but rhythmic flow
17
Q
practice 6
A
- institutionalization
- martial arts (kung fu)
- healthy living
- moral living
- spiritual living
- wholistic living
18
Q
institutionalization 2
A
temples and monasteries
19
Q
kung fu 3
A
- shaolin monks
- defensive, not aggressive
- to discipline mind and body, bring them to harmony
20
Q
healthy living 3
A
- apothecary
- homeopathy - natural means only
- not eating grains
21
Q
moral living 4
A
- virtue in kindness
- hygiene
- alms
- abstinence
22
Q
spiritual living 5
A
- pilgramages to spiritual places, especially high up, closer to spirits and sky
- yoga and meditation
- natural drug-induced trances
- acupuncture
- alchemy - transforming substances to looking for unbreakable things to by immortal
23
Q
wholistic living 4
A
- syncretism between 3 great rels of china
- confucianism social concern for all
- taoist meditation
- buddhist 8fold path lifestyle
24
Q
A
