Taoism

=__**Taoism**__=

media type="youtube" key="qPfh-isxqqU" height="340" width="560" Taoism is sometimes described as that which cannot be described, but can be known. This gets pretty difficult. The Tao, or Way, is what is commonly used. One thing that is often stressed in Taoism is the notion that everything is in a state of flux and that we can never be truly certain of anything because of this lack of permanence.

Read the poem below. =Chuang Tzu And The Butterfly Analysis= Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly, And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking. Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ? Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things? The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream. The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city, Was once the Prince of the East Hill. So must rank and riches vanish. You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?

Prepare an answer for the following questions"
 * 1) Why does the author choose a butterfly?
 * 2) What is the importance of the water cycle?
 * 3) What is the point about the 'man raising melons'?
 * 4) What is the author attempting to convey to the reader?

=Essential Quotes of Taoism=

Go to the Essential Quotes of Taoism above and read through them. Be sure to note down answers to the following questions. (Be prepared to share your answers):
 * 1) In //Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching//, Lao-Tzu says, that, "The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels". Does this quote have an equivalent to in Christianity? Are there other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind you of Christian ideals?
 * 2) See Passage 2, "Not honoring men....Not wanting rare things...Not paying attention..." How are does this help one understand how Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems?
 * 3) In Passage 2, what do you think is meant by the lines, "relaxing the mind, reinforcing the abdomen, gentling the will, strengthening the bones"?
 * 4) Consider the last three entries from D.C. Lau's //Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching//, Lao Tzu describes government. How is this ideal different from Confucius' ideal? What present day system of government are you reminded of when you read this section? Do you think this is a good system? Explain.
 * 5) Regarding the third treasure that Lao Tzu describes, what do you think is his message? Do you agree? What does this say about people who are ambitious?

=Taoism & the Philosophes of the Enlightenment: Essay Grade=

Some of what Lao Tzu believed was similar to some of what the //philosophes// of the 18th century also believed. Certainly, nothing is new anywhere in the world. I am not saying that what Confucius or what Lao Tzu said completely shaped what evolved in the 18th century, but there are some striking similarities. Objective: What you are to do:
 * To be able to identify parallel philosophies in Eastern (Taoist) and Western traditions.
 * To appreciate that philosophically speaking traditions of thinking may not always be totally different between these two traditions.
 * To communicate in an academic piece of writing what those similarities are.
 * Begin by reading about the works of the following //philosophes//:
 * Adam Smith
 * Jean-Jacques Rousseau
 * Baron de Montesquieu
 * Use the library resources available. [|ABC-CLIO]
 * The user is kis and the password is welcome
 * Take notes searching for quotes and direct quotes from the above //philosophes// that are very similar to what can be found in Taoism.
 * Prepare a writing planning, retrieval chart.
 * In the chart identify a total of three similarities between the ideas of at least two of the above philosophes and Taoist teachings.
 * Second step, write an essay answering the following question:
 * //**To what extent were the ideals of Taoism similar to those ideals of 18th century philosophes?**//
 * **Grade: Marked out of 30 marks (See rubric under Essay Lesson).**