Taoism Flashcards
Fundamental beliefs = P’U, the uncarved block
• the fundamental nature is that things in their original form contain their own power… power that is easily spoiled and lost when that form is changed
Taoism originated in ancient _______. It advocates a life of natural simplicity and selflessness.
China
Lao-tzu
Born 6th century
Wrote founding text of Taoism
Founding text of Taoism
Tao-te Ching
Tao
Translated as the Way. It describes both the unchanging first principle by which all things came to be
Taoism = more aligned with the peace and quiet associated with the ____ force
Yin
• unlike Confucianism and its emphasis on action & aggression with the yang force
We-wei
- means non-action
- the preferred path of least resistance
- doesn’t mean the absence of action, but acting without artificiality or over action
Tao-to ching
2 sections
1) 1st part = concerned with the general theory of the Tao
2) 2nd part = concerned with the Te, or the power by which the universal Tao becomes particular in the world
Chuang-tzu
- Describes the mystical aspects of Taoism
* emphasis on transcendence through non-rational means
Neo-Taoism
• different rationalist, aesthetic, and iconoclastic changes made to Taoism were all part of this movement
Beginning of institutional Taoist religion
Identified with the founding of the Heavenly Masters sect
Heavenly Masters sect
Chang Ling = founder. Claimed that Lao-tzu appeared to him in a cave and made him the Heavenly Master
Classic of Great Peace
- Taoism offers a doctrine of salvation
* the Classic of Great Peace = considered to be the most IMPORTANT test of religious Taoism after the Tao-Te Ching
Taoist canon
- Immense collection of over 1,000 volumes compiled over 15 centuries
- discovered by hermits in caves
- divided into 3 Caverns
Chi-Kung
- Meditation and breathing exercises
* Hope to connect their bodies with the gods
2 Taoist sects surviving today
1) Heavenly Masters sect
2) Perfect Truth sect
• allows the greatest Buddhist influence
• noted for its fasting and devoted pursuit of inner alchemy and meditation
The country with the strongest Taoist following besides China is _______
Korea
The Sacred
- Experienced through the fear or awe one feels in the presence of a spirit or god
- the experience of the sacred that first awakens reverential awe is a prerequisite to religion
Mana
- a mysterious, invisible force that causes nature to act as it does
- belief in mana is humankinds original impetus to adopt religion
–-> Bishop Codrington
Paul Tillich defined religion as “that which is of ultimate concern”
Believed that a person’s religion was whatever was most important to them
The key to understanding Tillich’s theology is his “method of correlation”
Way of establishing a connection between Christian revelation and the issues presented by existential philosophical analysis