(no subject)

[visionshadows]

I HATE TESTS.

That said, I have to go study more.

[grumbles and kicks the Taoist religion]

Be easier to understand!

Comments

taoism

[turtlenj1.livejournal.com]

taoism is easy. I've been following it for a while now.

Re: taoism

[visionshadows.livejournal.com]

I just can't wrap my brain around the philosophy of it. I also suck at philosophy so that's probably why.

tao

[turtlenj1.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of ways to describe the philosphy. Maybe some of these examples will help:

"Tao does not take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The master does not take sides;
she welcomes both sinners and saints."

"What is a good man, but a bad man's teacher?
What is a bad man, but a good man's job?"

In other words both are equal. You can't have a concept of one without the other. Both teach of life. The sooner you abondon the knowledge you've learned from others the sooner you become closer to Tao.

"What is more useful?
A bucket of water or an empty bucket?"

This question in the Tao Te Ching is the one that opened the door for me. You can use an empty bucket for anything you want where as you can only use a bucket of water for a few taskes. Become empty and the world is yours.

[tsnu.livejournal.com]

I had exactly the same problem when I did Taoism in Studies of Religion in first year uni. I have no idea how to synthesise a religion that has such a complex and deity free philosophy with such a colourful practise. Luckily, we only had a multiple choice test, so I didn't have to wax lyrical about the psychedelic temples and the local politicians who get promoted to gods in Northern China. Good luck!

Re:

[visionshadows.livejournal.com]

I had an essay on it and totally bombed it because I didn't remember the parts of Wu-wei. Meh. Now I feel all stupid because I do kind of understand it sort of.

Ah well. It's over and done with now.

Re:

[tsnu.livejournal.com]

That's the best thing about exams, how easy it is to forget all the stuff you learned for them *g*. It empties out your brain for fun stuff like new fic writing :)