OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
• PRINCIPAL BELIEFS CONCERNING THE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE
• PRINCIPAL BELIEFS OF TAOISM
• SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND DEITIES
• PRINCIPAL RITUALS
• INFLUENCE IN THE SOCIETY
• HUMAN SEARCH FOR MEANING
•
PRINCIPAL BELIEFS CONCERNING THE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE
THE TAO
• Underlying principle for everything in the universe
• First in a series of creative forces
The Tao
YIN
YANG
Examples of Yin-Yang in everyday life“All phenomena exist in pairs of opposites” PRINCIPAL BELIEFS OF TAOISM
THE TAO
•The main principle belief of Taoism
3 Ways in which we can understand the Tao:
1.Tao is the underlying principle of the universe, meaning and fulfilment to life, the universe and everything
2.Ultimately transcendent but also immanent= underlying principle for life and nature ,it can be force that is within and drives a person (an inexhaustible spiritual power)
3.HARMONISATION WITH THE TAO
“The Great Tao flows everywhere.
It may go left or right
All things depend on it for life. and it does not turn away from them. It accomplishes its task, but does not claim credit for it.
It clothes and feeds all things but does not claim to be master over them. "
Tao Te Ching, chapter 30
“The Tao is the underlying principle of everything
PRINCIPAL BELIEFS OF THE
RELIGION
TE(POWER OF THE TAO)
• Psychic energy of the Tao that:
• Creates
• Sustains
• Fulfils the entire universe and all things and lives and minds in it
WU-WEI(Action Less Activity) (NOT BEING LAZY)
•Corporal (physical action) Belief involving the realisation of the presence of the Tao by wu-wei (action less-activity)
• Wu-wei involves:
TE
“When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.The world is ruled by letting things take their course .It cannot be ruled by interefring
1. Allowing things to be without interference=understand their own inner nature 2. Spontaneous Appropriateness= hard because we react in automatic and inappropriate ways
3. Seeing the World Around us like a pool of clear water. We can see our reflection on the surface ( the true nature of other things ),provided we not disturb or attempt to improve the natural surface
“Seeing the World Around us like a pool of clear water”
SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND
DEITIES
• Taoism has a pantheon of Gods and spirits that are manifestations of the Tao:
The Three Purities-aspects of Taoist divinity
The Eight Immortals-examples of how immortality can be achieved by harmonising with the Tao and self cultivation
• Fundamental Supernatural Power is the Tao=underlying principle of the universe
• Various interpretations of The Tao=depends on the application of Taoism as:
Philosophy
Remedy
Religion
TAOISM AS A PHILOSOPHY ral and tu a n f o s ie r e s
“Life is a on't resist
D
. s e g n a h c s u spontaneo orrow. Let s s te a e r c ly n them; that o ings flow th t e L
.
y t li a e r reality be atever way h w in d r a w r naturally fo
TZU
they like.”-LAO
“All things end in the Tao as rivers flow to the sea”-LAO
TZU
•Requires a certain detachment from the affairs of daily life
•Acquiring a life-affirming, spiritually minded attitude(epitomised in the quotes ) that seeks alignment with nature •When we live and think in tune with the
Tao and have the above attitude the best of everything naturally happens for us
“With an open mind, you will be openhearted.
Being openhearted, you will act royally.
Being royal, you will attain the divine.
Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao.”-LAO
TZU (Tao Te Ching 32)
“Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind rest at peace.”-LAO TZU
“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”-LAO TZU
SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND
DEITIES
TAOISM AS A REMEDY
• Ordinary unenlightened people are out of touch with themselves and the Tao
• Specific pursuits and deliberate actions=to harmonise with the Tao(its way and its power)
• The development
